The United States is committed to the Armenia‑Azerbaijan peace negotiations and welcomes efforts by partners, including the European Union, to build confidence in the region and to ensure an environment conducive to direct dialogue between Armenia and Azerbaijan, United States Department of State Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel said at a press briefing.
Patel was asked by a reporter to comment on Russian Foreign Ministry’s statement criticizing the EU for sending a civilian monitoring mission to the Armenian-Azerbaijani border.
“Let me say a couple things, Alex. First, the U.S. is committed to Armenia‑Azerbaijan peace negotiations. We welcome efforts by partners, including the European Union, to build confidence in the region and to ensure an environment conducive to direct dialogue between Armenia and Azerbaijan. We continue to work closely with all our partners directly and with partners in the region as well when effective.
Specifically, about Russia’s role, the U.S. was not involved in the November 20 [sic] ceasefire brokered by Russia between Armenia and Azerbaijan that resulted in the deployment of Russian peacekeepers, so I just wouldn’t have anything additional to offer on that. But of course, as you know, Alex, this is something that is deeply important to the Secretary, something he’s paid close attention to and been deeply engaged on,” Patel said, according to the official transcript.
DECISION TO ARREST LEADERS OF ARMENIAN COMMUNITY WAS CANCELED
The district court of the city of Yekaterinburg, Russia, canceled the decision to arrest the head of the city's Armenian community Masis Nazaryan and activist Elen Kirakosyan. Narek Spartakyan, Armenian consul in Yekaterinburg, informed about it. Nazaryan and Kirakosyan were arrested on January 23 near Saint Karapet Church in Yekaterinburg for organizing a protest in support of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh). According to the court, the demonstration was not authorized.
ECHR ADOPTED 274 JUDGMENTS ON THE MERITS OF AZERBAIJAN
In 2022, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) made 23 decisions on the merits regarding complaints from Azerbaijan. At the same time, in 22 resolutions the violation of most of the disputed rights was recognized. Khalid Agaliyev, head of the ECHR decision monitoring group on Azerbaijan, announced this referring to the official statistical report of the Strasbourg Court.
Most of all, in cases from Azerbaijan, the ECHR recognized the violation of the rights to freedom and personal integrity. This was found in 9 solutions. Seven cases concerned violations of the right to a fair trial, 3 - property rights, 2 - respect for privacy, 1 - the inadmissibility of torture, 1 - the right to life.
In total, the ECHR adopted 274 judgments on the merits of Azerbaijan. Only in three cases no violation of the applicants' rights was found.
In 126 decisions, the ECHR recognized the violation of the rights to a fair trial, 98 - the right to liberty and security of person, 57 - the inadmissibility of torture, 46 - property rights, 43 - freedom of association, etc.
At the same time, Azerbaijan is the "leader" in violations of the right to free elections and Article 18 of the European Convention on Human Rights and Freedoms.
Azerbaijan ranks 8th in the ECHR in terms of the number of pending applications.
