Azerbaijan files lawsuit against Armenia to international arbitration

On 12 February Azerbaijan filed a lawsuit against Armenia to the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague under the 1979 Convention on the Protection of Wild Fauna and Flora and Natural Habitats in Europe (‘Bern Convention’).

According to the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry, the lawsuit refers to numerous violations of Armenia's legal obligations under the ‘Berne Convention’.

‘After the liberation of the territories from occupation, Azerbaijan revealed horrifying facts of environmental destruction by Armenia. This country has failed to protect habitats and species in one of the richest biodiversity hotspots in the world. Armenia's actions have caused irreversible serious damage to wildlife and species in the region,’ the press release reads.

The press release recalls that on 18 January 2023 Azerbaijan sent a notice to Armenia to start an arbitration process on the basis of the mentioned evidence.

Azerbaijan demands full compensation from Armenia for the mass destruction of habitats and wildlife. In particular, it refers to the destruction of hundreds of species of wild flora and fauna during the occupation of Azerbaijani territories.

The occupants carried out large-scale deforestation, inefficient mining activities and construction of hydroelectric power plants.

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) reported the damage to thousands of hectares of specially protected and valuable forests in Azerbaijan, where trees more than 2,000 years old were growing.

The UNEP report also said that hundreds of dead fish were found in the Ohchuchay river. It is documented that mining activities in the occupied territories have resulted in chemical contamination of water and soil. Armenia's actions during the occupation period still threaten protected fish and amphibian species.

Azerbaijan will hold Armenia internationally responsible for the destruction and failure to take measures to protect the environment, animal species and habitats during the illegal occupation, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry concluded.