The Hague Court will hold a hearing on October 14 and 15 to consider Armenia's urgent motion. The two-day hearing at the UN International Court of Justice will be broadcast online. The representative of Armenia in the ECHR will be present at the discussion. A group of international experts has been formed to take part in the hearings to help represent Armenia's interests.
“I represent Armenia’s interests in the case, I will definitely be present. The logic of the hearings was that we demanded an urgent measure, emphasizing the urgency of the situation. The demands included, among other things, the cessation of hate speech, the closure or at least suspension of the ‘trophy park’,” says Yeghishe Kirakosyan, Armenia's representative in ECHR.
Armenia filed a lawsuit against Azerbaijan in The Hague on September 16 for violating the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. Among the demands are the return of the captives, the cessation of the destruction of the Armenian spiritual, religious and cultural heritage, and the provision of protection.
“The logic of the demands is that Azerbaijan must stop the existing violations, i.e. the current violations, refrain from further violations of the provisions of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, so that the case can be heard in its normal course. This is a very powerful tool,” Yeghishe Kirakosyan says.
According to the representative of Armenia in the European Court, the hearings are important, as the International Court of Justice decides on an urgent measure only after the hearings. The court is expected to make that decision in a month and a half. The trial of the case will take place after that.
“The written stage will be clear, Armenia's arguments will be presented in a deep and comprehensive form. The answer will be clear, more hearings are expected on the case,” says Yeghishe Kirakosyan.
Kirakosyan once again emphasized that the process is unprecedented, taking into account the fact that Armenia is applying to the Hague Court for the first time.
