The International Court of Justice, popularly known as the World Court, directed Azerbaijan to allow the return of ethnic Armenians who fled Nagorno-Karabakh amidst the regional dispute in September. The ruling also mandates the protection of the ethnic Armenians presently residing in the contentious territory.
The court emphasizes that Azerbaijan’s obligations under the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination include ensuring the safe and unhindered return of individuals who left Nagorno-Karabakh post-September 19, 2023, and wish to return. The commitment indicates allowing those who chose to stay or returned to leave safely if they wish and shielding those who decide to stay from coercive forces or intimidation that might compel them to leave.
Concerns about the situation were earlier raised by Baroness Cox, a human rights expert and member of the UK House of Lords. She expressed that the impediment faced by ethnic Armenians in leaving the territory was deeply troublesome and had the potential to escalate into genocide.
The ruling followed a tumultuous period when, after a sustained blockade that eventually led to violent attacks by Azerbaijani forces, 100,000 Armenians fled Nagorno-Karabakh, and the region’s ethnic-Armenian government that comprised an estimated 95% of the population declared its dissolution. The details about the demographic data are mentioned as per the data provided by the CFR Global Conflict Tracker.
This incident marks the fourth time the World Court has heard a request for emergency measures in the context of two ongoing legal disputes between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Both countries blame each other before the ICJ for violation of the UN anti-discrimination treaty. The roots of the territorial dispute and conflict between the two nations go back to 1988 when the people of Nagorno-Karabakh demanded secession from Azerbaijan and annexation into Armenia.
In other developments, Armenia joined the International Criminal Court (ICC) as the 124th State Party on November 14. This move has been seen as a reiteration of Armenia’s sovereignty and its alignment with democratic nations, providing a viable avenue for seeking criminal accountability for the atrocities committed by Azerbaijanis on Armenian territory.
The full particulars of the judgement are available in the detailed report published by Jurist – News.