The UN International Court to Hear Mutual Claims from Azerbaijan and Armenia

BBC: The UN International Court of Justice (ICJ) has agreed to consider mutual lawsuits filed by Azerbaijan and Armenia, each accusing the other of violating the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination due to the ongoing situation in Nagorno-Karabakh.

During Tuesday's session, the court rejected requests from both Armenian and Azerbaijani authorities, who argued that the lawsuits fell outside the court's jurisdiction.

However, the ICJ dismissed all objections from Azerbaijan while upholding some of those presented by Armenia. This decision implies that the Azerbaijani claim will be limited in scope. Specifically, the court will not examine events from the First Karabakh War or the accusations against Armenia regarding environmental damage.

On September 16, 2021, Armenia filed a lawsuit against Azerbaijan, accusing it of violating the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. Two years later, Azerbaijan filed a countersuit with identical claims.

Armenia's Claims

A year after its defeat in the 2020 Karabakh War, Armenia approached the ICJ in The Hague, accusing Azerbaijan of violating the rights of ethnic Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh under the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.

In September 2023, Azerbaijan conducted a military operation in Karabakh. Following this, the authorities of the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR) announced its dissolution. Within days, the more than 100,000 residents of the former NKR fled Azerbaijan. In response, Azerbaijan established a land border checkpoint between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

The mass exodus of Armenians from Karabakh was preceded by a months-long blockade. At the beginning of 2023, Azerbaijan cut off the unrecognized NKR from Armenia, leading to shortages of food, medicine, electricity, and gas for Armenians in Karabakh.

Even earlier, what many describe as "Armenophobia" had emerged in Azerbaijan. Both Armenians and international observers raised concerns over nationalist rhetoric from Azerbaijani officials, who often disparaged their critics by labeling them as "Armenian."

For instance, a deputy prosecutor general referred to journalists as individuals "with an Armenian essence." There were also concerns about the way history was taught in Azerbaijani schools and how children were educated, which was perceived by many as blatant xenophobia and incitement of hatred against ethnic Armenians.

Azerbaijan's Position

In 2023, Azerbaijan filed a countersuit alleging racial discrimination. Baku claims that Armenian authorities have "committed and continue to commit discriminatory acts against Azerbaijanis based on their national or ethnic origin." The lawsuit also addresses the destruction of cultural heritage sites.

Following the outbreak of war in 1992, nearly all Azerbaijanis living in Armenia fled the country and have not been able to return due to fears for their safety.

The same holds true for Armenians who fled Azerbaijan during the First Karabakh War.