The court's decision on the appeal of the former leaders of Nagorno-Karabakh sparked controversy on social media.

Before filing a complaint with the ECHR, the convicted former leaders and residents of Nagorno-Karabakh in Baku still have mechanisms for appeal at the national level; they are unlikely to count on pardon or amnesty, the lawyer noted. Social media users debated the further fate of the convicted, with some commentators expressing the opinion that even if the ECHR rules in their favor, it is unlikely to be enforced by the Azerbaijani authorities.

As reported by "Caucasian Knot", on February 17, the Baku Military Court sentenced former state minister of Nagorno-Karabakh Ruben Vardanyan to 20 years of imprisonment, whose case was considered separately. The defendant, who headed the Karabakh government for only a few months during the blockade of the Lachin corridor, was found guilty of war crimes. Vardanyan refused to file an appeal, explaining that he does not recognize the verdict as an act of justice. Other prisoners, whose cases were considered separately, also received long sentences. The representative of the interests of Armenian prisoners in the European Court of Human Rights, Siranush Saakyan, reported on July 25 that information is coming about the poor health condition of the convicted, including serious injuries that may have been sustained as a result of violence. The appellate court upheld the verdict against the convicted on August 6 .

The court's decision regarding the former leaders of Nagorno-Karabakh sparked controversy on social media

Discussions under the posts on the Facebook* page of the "Caucasian Knot" about the appellate court's decision regarding the former leaders and residents of Nagorno-Karabakh are focused on demands for the release of the detainees and assessments of the legality of their detention. Two posts on this topic had garnered over 700 comments by 19:47 Moscow time.

The discussion begins with calls to release the detainees. In response, other participants question the validity of such demands.

“Release the illegally detained Christian hostages immediately,” wrote Niki Avazidou.

“As soon as something happens, you immediately raise the Christian factor,” stated Ilham Movsumov.

They will be in an Azerbaijani prison as long as Aliyev wants; this is the court in Azerbaijan!

Some commentators link the issue of release to events from past years and the consequences of armed confrontation.

“When for 30 years they held Azerbaijani lands under occupation... the issue is not political, but about justice,” believes Niki Aivazidou.

“Karabakh is Azerbaijan... Why should they be released?” wrote Arm Musslim.

“They could have increased the sentences,” commented Dimitri Michiev on the appellate court's decision.

Some users pointed out the political aspect of the decision.

“They will be in an Azerbaijani prison as long as Aliyev wants; this is the court in Azerbaijan!” noted Alexander Babajanyan.

Users debated the status of the convicted

Some users emphasize that they view the detainees as individuals who committed crimes and therefore oppose their release.

There are no Armenian prisoners in Azerbaijan! There are war criminals.

“They are not prisoners; they are worthy sons of their people. Justice will prevail,” countered Karina Marutyan.

“There are no Armenian prisoners in Azerbaijan! There are war criminals,” expressed the opinion of Mutallim Ganizade.

“Criminals must answer for their actions. They will sit until the end,” expressed confidence Mariam Mamedova.

The influence of the ECHR on Azerbaijan's decisions was questioned

Some users pointed out that even if the ECHR rules in favor of the convicted, it is not a fact that it will be enforced.

The European Court cannot dictate. It will at most issue a verdict for itself. Azerbaijan does not care about the EU or the court's verdict.

17:00 15.02.2022

Legal collapse: how the Azerbaijani authorities do not comply with ECHR decisions

Almost 20 years ago, Azerbaijan ratified the European Convention on Human Rights and its protocols. After that, individuals under the jurisdiction of the republic gained the right to appeal to the European Court of Human Rights. Which ECHR decisions Azerbaijan complies with, which it does not, and why, were investigated by journalists from Meydan TV.

“If the international court is so correct, then first all those who attacked Azerbaijanis from 1987 to 1996, both in Armenia and Karabakh, should be judged, who expelled them from their own homes, and then leveled those same homes, mosques, and cemeteries to the ground,” wrote Murad Karabaxskiy.

“The European Court cannot dictate. It will at most issue a verdict for itself. Azerbaijan does not care about the EU or the court's verdict,” wrote Zeinal Haciev.

The lawyer pointed out the possibilities for further appeal of the verdict

The convicted former leaders of Nagorno-Karabakh and other figures in this case in Azerbaijan can still legally file a cassation appeal to the Supreme Court of Azerbaijan. The convicted have 18 months from the date of the appellate court's decision to do so, said a Baku lawyer who wished to remain anonymous.

Then, the panel of criminal cases of the Supreme Court appoints hearings on the case within three months; the time for considering the case is not limited by law. Only after the Supreme Court's decision can the convicted appeal to the ECHR regarding the essence of the verdict.

Given that these are individuals accused of particularly serious crimes against Azerbaijani citizens, it is unlikely that the convicted can count on a pardon.

After the appellate court's decision, the verdict came into force, and the former leaders of Karabakh can legally be pardoned by the President of Azerbaijan, he also noted.

“However, given that these are individuals accused of particularly serious crimes against Azerbaijani citizens, it is unlikely that the convicted can count on a pardon,” he noted.

He also considers it unlikely that an amnesty will be declared for these individuals.

“Never before in Azerbaijan have individuals convicted of serious and particularly serious crimes been granted amnesty,” the expert noted.

He emphasized that Azerbaijan does not recognize the status of "prisoners of war" for Armenian citizens or residents of Karabakh of Armenian nationality involved in criminal cases.

“After the 2020 war, Azerbaijan periodically released Armenian military and civilians. Already after the end of hostilities in 2020, 62 military personnel from the Goris region of Armenia were transferred to Karabakh. They were detained by Azerbaijani military in the former Gadru district and handed over to law enforcement agencies. Subsequently, they were sentenced to various terms for illegal border crossing and participation in illegal armed formations. However, all of them were partially released early, either as part of exchanges or "humanitarian gestures" from Baku, with international mediation. However, there is no public information on how the Azerbaijani side formalized the early release of individuals convicted of criminal offenses. There may have been some court decisions to mitigate sentences,” said the lawyer.

17:52 14.01.2026

Four convicted in Azerbaijan for long terms transferred to Armenia

Georgy Sujyan, David Davtyan, Vigen Euljjekdzhyan, and Vagif Khachatryan were handed over at the Khakari bridge by representatives of the relevant Azerbaijani authorities to representatives of Armenia and are currently on the territory of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan reported.

He reminded that the last case of release and transfer to Armenia of individuals of Armenian nationality occurred in January 2026. And in this case, no public information was provided regarding the grounds for the release of these individuals.

The lawyer believes that the possible release of the convicted may be timed to some major political event – the signing of a final peace treaty between Azerbaijan and Armenia or the ratification of this agreement by the parliaments of the two countries.

However, in his opinion, not all of the convicted can count on release, particularly those who held high positions in Nagorno-Karabakh are unlikely to be released.

“They directly gave orders to conduct military operations, including against the civilian population,” he pointed out.

At the official level, the criminal prosecution has not drawn criticism from any state in the world. The ECHR has also not taken any protective measures in the cases of these individuals.

In his opinion, the trial was conducted in accordance with procedural norms. “They were provided with lawyers and translators. Although their statements and the defense's position were covered in a limited way by the state press of Azerbaijan. At the official level, the criminal prosecution has not drawn criticism from any state in the world. There was criticism from some deputies, not very large international NGOs. The ECHR has also not taken any protective measures in the cases of these individuals, nor prioritized the complaint about pre-trial detention,” noted the lawyer, thus indicating the absence of “any serious international pressure on Baku.”