Armenian Weekly: ECHR Option for Justice Seekers
Not finding justice in Yerevan, Armenians should apply to the European Court
An opinion piece in The Armenian Weekly urges Armenians experiencing rights violations to pursue justice through the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), given concerns about Armenia's domestic judicial system.
The article argues that Armenia's judiciary has deteriorated under Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's administration since 2018, citing instances of judicial interference and detention of political opponents. It notes that Armenia, as a Council of Europe member, grants its citizens access to ECHR proceedings after exhausting domestic remedies.
The piece references prior ECHR cases involving Armenian complainants who received compensation for human rights violations. It also highlights Pashinyan's own 2022 ECHR victory against Armenia, in which his newspaper received damages from the Armenian government.
The article outlines alleged constitutional violations by the prime minister, including church-state separation issues and the 2020 Artsakh ceasefire agreement, suggesting these matters warrant ECHR review.