ECHR applies urgent measure in case of Armenian prisoners of war kept in Azerbaijan

The European Court of Human Rights has ruled to apply an urgent measure in the case of human rights protection of Armenian servicemen captured by the Azerbaijani side early in the morning of September 27.

The application to the ECHR has been filed by lawyers Artak Zeynalyan and Siranush Sahakyan.

The persons in captivity are Samvel Asatryan, Arsen Karapetyan, Norik Arakelyan, Gegham Elibekyan, Vahe Abrahamyan, Hovsep Sahakyan, Samvel Kastaktsyan, Samvel Knyazyan, Edik Tonoyan, Valery Hayrapetyan, Harutyun Gevorgyan, Arman Harutyunyan, Mikayel Martirosyan, Lyudwig Mkrtchyan, Petros Ghazaryan, Sargis Soghomonyan and Khachik Hakobyan.

The ECHR received an appeal on behalf of the families of the captive Armenian servicemen with the request to impose urgent measure on the protection of the right to life and right to be free from inhumane treatment.

The ECHR demanded the Azeri government to provide detailed documentation on when the troops were captured, where they are held, the detention conditions and medical issues. The ECHR recorded that the Azeri government has failed to submit trustworthy and substantiated information within the defined timeframe.