ICJ: Azerbaijan shall ensure freedom of return of Karabakh Armenians

At its meeting today, the UN International Court of Justice prescribed Azerbaijan to ensure rights and freedom of movement for the Armenian population of Karabakh.

Report informs that, according to the decision of the court president Joan Donoghue, Azerbaijan shall ensure the return to Karabakh of persons of Armenian nationality who left it after September 19 of this year and wish to return.

In addition, persons of Armenian nationality remaining here who wish to leave could do so in a safe and unimpeded manner.

The country shall also ensure that persons who remained in Nagorno Karabakh after September 19, 2023, or returned to Nagorno Karabakh and who wish to stay are free from the use of force or intimidation that may cause them to flee, the statement reads.

In line with the decision, the Republic of Azerbaijan shall, in accordance with its obligations under the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, protect and preserve registration, identity, and private property documents and records that concern the Armenian population of Karabakh.

According to the decision, the Republic of Azerbaijan shall submit a report to the court on the measures taken and on ensuring the rights of the indicated category of Armenians within eight weeks as from the date of this order.