Human rights complaint filed for 15 Armenians detained in Azerbaijan

A human rights defender filed a group complaint with the European Court of Human Rights on August 21, 2026, challenging the detention and trials of 15 Armenians held in Azerbaijan, including former leaders of Artsakh and military officials.

The complaint argues the trials before Azerbaijan's Baku Military Court violated fair trial protections under the European Convention on Human Rights. Key allegations include: lack of judicial independence and impartiality, prejudicial public statements by Azerbaijani officials before verdicts, inadequate access to case materials and translations, and restrictions on the right to defense.

The complaint also contests the military court's jurisdiction over civilians and raises concerns about violations of the principle that punishment requires a specific criminal act and individual guilt.