Why do the decisions of the European Court of Justice raise doubts?

Baku/07.04.23/Turan: The recent rejection by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) of a complaint regarding the violation of human rights defender Ogtay Gulaliyev's rights has raised concerns among civil society representatives in Azerbaijan.

The decisions made by the European Court against Azerbaijan have been questioned by many applicants, who express dissatisfaction with the minimal compensation, rejection of complaints, and other similar issues.

Civil society members are skeptical about the recent decisions of the court and question their fairness, raising suspicions that the Azerbaijani government may have influenced the judges of the European Court, especially considering the past influence exerted on PACE deputies through "caviar diplomacy."

Human rights defender Fuad Hasanov shared his views on these matters and other human rights-related issues on the program "Difficult Question". According to Hasanov, the events that unfolded in Seyudlu village are not unprecedented. He emphasized that the Azerbaijani authorities lack experience in resolving conflicts through dialogue with citizens and communities. On June 20, residents of Seyudlu attempted to peacefully protest against a gold mining company's toxic waste polluting their habitat. However, they were met with an inappropriate response as the peaceful protest was forcefully dispersed by the police.

Hasanov expressed doubts about the credibility of the government commission established by Prime Minister Ali Asadov to monitor and assess the situation in the village, emphasizing the need for an impartial and independent examination. 
He also pointed out that Azerbaijan has a history of low compliance with decisions from the European Court. The current implementation of these decisions and the amount of compensation awarded raise serious concerns.

According to Hasanov, the ECHR has increasingly declared complaints of rights violations inadmissible. The rejection of human rights defender Ogtay Gulaliyev's complaint is cited as an example of such decisions, which raise significant suspicions. However, there is currently no evidence to suggest that the judges of the European Court have been influenced by the Azerbaijani authorities, as stated by the expert.