International law expert Ara Ghazaryan has warned that Armenia’s decision to withdraw inter-state lawsuits against Azerbaijan will create significant uncertainty, except for individuals who have already filed or are preparing to file personal claims independently. He stressed the urgency of acting quickly, as reported by Aysor.am.
“We encourage Artsakh Armenians to start filing individual complaints. The Washington agreement makes no mention of resolving their issues, such as property rights or the right of return. When a bilateral international agreement is silent on such matters, they must be addressed through legal conventions, and the European Convention on Human Rights is the most suitable,” Ghazaryan said.
He emphasized that individuals who file or have already filed legal claims may expect legal protection. In contrast, those who do not will remain in legal limbo, uncertain whether Armenia and Azerbaijan will ever resolve their claims.
According to Ghazaryan, strict deadlines and principles govern applications to international courts. Delays may result in cases being rejected by tribunals.
“It’s better to file now. Withdrawing the claims is a poor solution. When you abandon one legal mechanism, you must offer another because the right still stands. People have lost their property due to armed conflict, and one of the parties must be held accountable. At the moment, neither side is assuming responsibility. Why should victims be the ones to pursue justice through international courts?” he argued.
The preliminary agreement signed by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Washington on August 8 includes a clause stating that within one month of its entry into force, both countries will withdraw all interstate lawsuits, complaints, objections, proceedings, and disputes relating to issues predating the agreement.
