Judges at the primary UN tribunal have ruled that Azerbaijan is obligated to permit the return of ethnic Armenians who evacuated Nagorno-Karabakh during the Azerbaijani military takeover, as confirmed in a decision on Friday by the International Court of Justice. The ruling emphasised the necessity for the safe repatriation of previous ethnic Armenian inhabitants and the protection of those who remained in the region.
Presiding judge Joan Donoghue asserted, “Azerbaijan must ensure that persons who have left Nagorno-Karabakh after September 19, 2023, and who wish to return to Nagorno-Karabakh can do so in a safe, unimpeded and expeditious manner.”
Azerbaijan gained control of Nagorno-Karabakh, internationally recognised as Azeri territory, following the defeat of separatist ethnic Armenian forces in a rapid campaign in September. Subsequently, the majority of the region’s 120,000 ethnic Armenians sought refuge in neighbouring Armenia.
Yerevan has accused Azerbaijan of engaging in ethnic cleansing, while Baku contends that it is reclaiming control of a contested breakaway territory through various wars. The court’s decision also mandated that Azerbaijan ensure the safety of remaining Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh, preventing the use of force or intimidation that could compel them to flee.
In response, Azerbaijan’s foreign ministry declared its commitment to upholding the human rights of Armenian residents in Karabakh on an equal basis with other Azerbaijani citizens. However, numerous ethnic Armenians who fled expressed scepticism about their safety if they were to return to the region, given the perceived hostility of the ruling power.
