YEREVAN, Armenia In her workplace in downtown Yerevan, Tatevik Soghoyan slowly goes through piles of files neatly set up in chronological order each one connected to the case of her missing uncle.The most recent letter from the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) checks out: The participant government [Azerbaijan] has been not able to identify Mr.
Hrant Papikyan.In October 2020, in the middle of the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War, Papikyan, a military doctor, rushed to the battleground with his motorist to deal with injured soldiers.While the driver handled to draw back, Papikyan was surrounded by Azerbaijani forces and has not been heard from considering that, Soghoyan told The Moscow Times.
Five years later on, her family believes he was either by force disappeared or taken captive.Earlier this year, Yerevan and Baku reached an arrangement on a long-awaited peace treaty a possible breakthrough in the decades-long dispute.
Nevertheless, both sides have yet to follow through and officially sign it.Hrant Papikyan (left) and military medical professional Taron Tonoyan pictured hours before Papikyan went to the battlefield.Personal archiveThe peace treaty talks came after Baku took complete control of the challenged Nagorno-Karabakh region in a lightning offensive in 2023, requiring ethnic Armenians to flee the enclave en masse.World leaders have voiced support for the contract, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S.
leader Donald Trump who said he is eagerly anticipating seeing the treaty signed, according to Reuters.At home, however, the Armenian governments preparedness to drop tit-for-tat lawsuits from international courts as part of the offer has actually triggered chaos amongst the families of missing out on soldiers and more than 100,000 Karabakh refugees.
Some have actually even threatened to take legal action against the government if it goes on with the plan.In mid-March, family members of missing soldiers gathered in front of the federal government building to reveal their disappointment with the choice.
Soghoyan was among them.It didnt come as a surprise, but at the very same time, theres anger we are trying to understand why the federal government is doing this, she said.Last year Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan repeatedly meant his intent to drop the suits.
His leading legal envoy, Yeghishe Kirakosyan, appeared not to support the concept and left workplace simply days before the news broke.Initially, the government expressed its willingness to file the complaints, but at that time, there was no mention of the possibility of withdrawing them, Soghoyan explained.
The federal government can not make such a decision without asking us.
Our rights have been violated, and my family continues to reside in uncertainty and suffering.Families of the missing out on have held several closed-door conferences with officials.
However, Soghoyan said she still hasnt got a clear explanation of how she might file a private case versus Baku at the European Court if the government withdraws its complaint.Silent witness to Armenians exodusNearly 1,000 Armenians and 4,000 Azerbaijanis are thought about missing out on as an outcome of the Nagorno-Karabakh wars, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
The 2 arch-enemies are now attempting to attend to humanitarian concerns originating from the early 1990s through the only staying option: interdepartmental commissions.The latest meeting between Armenian and Azerbaijani authorities took place in February.
Last month, Armenian National Security Service Director Armen Abazyan informed press reporters that another round of talks is anticipated soon.A home is set on fire in the town of Lachin (Berdzor) in Nagorno-Karabakh in 2020.
Alexander Ryumin/ TASSAfter Russian peacekeepers were released to the breakaway enclave, they likewise assisted in humanitarian efforts.
Russians received 2,500 requests from Armenians to assist search for missing individuals.
Last year, Colonel General Yevgeny Nikiforov revealed that they had actually facilitated detainee exchanges, repatriated the bodies of 1,900 fallen soldiers and attended to other humanitarian issues.However, the Russians left the region last spring earlier than anticipated.
Throughout the departure ceremony, Nikiforov said that the peacekeepers had actually fulfilled their task at a high level.The Armenian governmentdisagrees.
In the early days of the Karabakh blockade, which cut residents off from food, medicine and essential services, Pashinyan accused the peacekeeping objective of functioning as a silent witness to Armenians exodus.Besides the peacekeepers, the Red Cross also had unique access to the Karabakh territory and was permitted to make monthly visits to the 23 Armenian prisoners of war held in Baku prisons.
Last month, Azerbaijani authorities bought the shutdown of the humanitarian organizations regional office.Our organization remains in discussion with the Azerbaijani federal government.
It is a personal dialogue associated to the more organizational part of our work how it will progress, in what status, in what type, Zara Amatuni, the interactions and prevention manager for the ICRCs Armenian workplace, informed The Moscow Times.We will keep fightingWhen Anahit Svaryan initially saw the remains of soldiers killed in the 44-Day War saved in colorful plastic bags at the morgue she was taken in by a single fear: if her 19-year-old bro was among them, all that might remain of him could be nothing more than shattered bone fragments.She last spoken with her sibling, Aram Svaryan, in the fall of 2020, while he was serving his mandatory military task in Karabakh.
Ever since, the family has searched for him everywhere.Anahit Svaryan with her brother Aram.Personal archiveDuring the war, Aram and his associates were ordered to drive to a position near the city of Hadrut to provide food to the army.
Five soldiers remained in the vehicle, with Aram at the wheel, when they came under heavy fire.
The teen was the first to be struck in the head, and the car overturned, according to a witness.
Azerbaijani soldiers later stormed the area.
2 of Arams comrades endured; the others were determined through DNA tests.
No trace of Aram was ever found.After the war, Anahits daddy Arkadi quit his work as a stonemason.
One of the last straws came when he was asked to carve a tombstone for another fallen soldier.For a minute, looking at those households, he wished for what they belonged to mourn, something he doesnt, Anahit told The Moscow Times.To keep Arams memory alive, the household produced a memorial corner for him at home a tradition that is generally typical amongst families of fallen soldiers.Ill never forget that moment, the 24-year-old remembered.
I strolled in and saw my father forming wood into a table while my mom assisted despite the fact that she had actually protested the concept at first.Anahit Svaryan and other relatives of missing out on soldiers have actually filed claims against Azerbaijan in Europes greatest human rights court.
They fear that the withdrawal of state-level complaints may compromise their private claims.Anahit and Aram Svaryan.Personal archiveOur lawyer guarantees us that, no matter the pressure, we will keep battling, she said.Yerevan has filed four cases against Azerbaijan given that 2020, and Baku has actually countered with 2 problems.
Last November, an additional problem considered by the UNs top court was ruled in Armenias favor on two of its objections, while a third was declined.
In 2023, the court likewise bought Baku to allow Armenians to return to Nagorno-Karabakh.
Gurgen Petrossian, who teaches international law at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg in Germany, stated it is too early to leap to conclusions, but Armenia appears to have a more powerful position in the global court than a pushed Baku.He likewise notes that if the claims are withdrawn, both legal and timing problems are likely for households who choose to submit cases again.In any case, when states withdraw [their claims], doubts occur about the nations determination and seriousness, the Armenian scholar told The Moscow Times.Until these legal disputes are fixed, he believes theres long shot for lasting peace in the region.It is not possible to bring peace without dealing with legal problems; peace, as such, does not fall from the sky legal prerequisites are necessary for this, Petrossian said.A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are dealing with unprecedented difficulties.
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