ECtHR Grand Chamber hears case “Sargsyan vs. Azerbaijan”

The plaintiff in the case “Sargsyan vs. Azerbaijan” Minas Sargsyan,  former resident of the village of Gyulistan, NKR Shahumyan region, according to the complaint filed in 2006, saying that he was forced to leave his native village and Azerbaijan rejected his demand to return home, litigated violations of European Convention on Human Rights Protocol 1 Article 1 (protection of property rights), Article 8 (right to respect for private and family life), and Article 13 (right to an effective remedy). Sargsyan also litigated violation of Convention’s Article 3 (prohibition of torture, and “inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment”) and violation of Articles 8 and 9 (right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion).

The issue of Azerbaijan’s efficient control over Gyulistan village was raised at the case hearing. The Azerbaijani party did not manage to substantiate the refutation of the fact.

As to the term of filing the complaint, plaintiff’s lawyers said that under permanent violation of his right Minas Sargsyan applied to ECtHR in 2006 since failure of the negotiation process within the framework of OSCE Minsk Group was officially announced then, and the plaintiff saw no prospect of returning to his native village.