European Court Issues First Ruling on April 2016 Four-Day War Cases, Orders Azerbaijan to Pay €90,000 Compensation to Victim’s Family

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) today delivered its first judgment concerning cases related to the April 2016 Four-Day War, according to former Head of the Office of the Representative on International Legal Matters, Liparit Drmeyan.

According to Drmeyan, the Court found, among other violations, that Azerbaijan had breached the Armenian serviceman’s right to life and the prohibition of torture, citing the beheading and desecration of the victim’s body.

The Court ordered Azerbaijan to pay €90,000 in compensation to the victim’s relatives.

Drmeyan noted that the ruling sets an important precedent for complaints seeking justice for victims of the 2020 44-Day War.

“This was one of the most tragic incidents of the April War, when enemy forces ambushed Armenian servicemen and later beheaded them and desecrated their bodies. These facts are described in detail in the Court’s judgment,” he wrote.

He also expressed special gratitude to the applicants’ legal team.

According to Drmeyan, Armenia participated in the proceedings as a third party in accordance with the Court’s procedures. Despite Azerbaijan’s continued denial of responsibility, extensive work made it possible to present irrefutable evidence, including materials from Azerbaijani television channels in which Azerbaijani special forces members described the incident as a “heroic episode.”