Day: June 13, 2024
In #Armenien will der Bischof Bagrat Galstanjan den Premier stürzen. Auslöser ist die Abgabe von vier Dörfern an den Erzfeind Aserbaidschan. Von Vincenzo Capodici @V_Capodici https://t.co/b0QQzP2fyc via @tagesanzeiger
— Notes from Georgia/South Caucasus (Hälbig, Ralph) (@SouthCaucasus) June 13, 2024
Streit: #Belarus und #Armenien berufen wechselseitig ihre Botschafter ab https://t.co/p9BtR9vDOF
— Notes from Georgia/South Caucasus (Hälbig, Ralph) (@SouthCaucasus) June 13, 2024
#Armenien: Verletzte bei Protesten gegen Regierungschef https://t.co/XXzs4B6G7P via @orf_at
— Notes from Georgia/South Caucasus (Hälbig, Ralph) (@SouthCaucasus) June 13, 2024
#Armenien kritisiert russisch dominiertes Militärbündnis scharf https://t.co/D3E2oXkYjx via @swissinfo_en
— Notes from Georgia/South Caucasus (Hälbig, Ralph) (@SouthCaucasus) June 13, 2024
#Armenien wird russisches Militärbündnis OVKS verlassen https://t.co/arivLlHsbv via @Tagesspiegel
— Notes from Georgia/South Caucasus (Hälbig, Ralph) (@SouthCaucasus) June 13, 2024
European court rulings on Azerbaijan
On June 13, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) issued two more rulings on complaints from Azerbaijan. The first case concerns the blocking of websites of four media outlets, while the second involves those arrested in the “Nardaran events.” In total, the Azerbaijani authorities have been fined €77,500 for these two cases.
- Abzas Media staff in Azerbaijan face extended detention, editor reports mistreatment
- Activist in Tbilisi beaten an hour after criticism from Parliament Speaker on social media
- Abzas Media staff in Azerbaijan face extended detention, editor reports mistreatment
“RFE/RL Inc. (Radio Liberty) and others v. Azerbaijan”
The court recognized the violations claimed by the four blocked media outlets. These include Radio Liberty (azadliq.org), Azer Talibov, founder and editor of the online news portal anaxeber.az, Vugar Alakbarov, founder of the news website az24saat.org, and Avaz Zeynalli, editor-in-chief of the site xural.com.
In 2017-2018, amendments were made to the Law on Information, Informatization, and Protection of Information and the Code of Administrative Offenses, which altered the rules regarding the dissemination of information.
Following these changes, access to the online media of the four Azerbaijani applicants was completely blocked.
Local courts based their decisions on these legislative amendments.
The applicants argued that the purpose of the blockage was not to prevent the spread of illegal content but to prevent the dissemination of any content critical of the government.
The applicants claimed that their rights under Articles 6, 10, 13, and 18 of the Convention had been violated.
The European Court concluded that the media blockages violated their right to freedom of expression.
According to the court’s decision, the government must pay each of the four applicants €5,000 as compensation for moral damages.
Additionally, the leaders of the sites anaxeber.az, az24saat.org, and xural.com are to be awarded €1,000 each for legal costs.
The decision also includes the unblocking of the online resources.
The applicants were represented at the ECHR by lawyers Elchin and Zibeyda Sadigova.
“Zakir Mustafayev and others v. Azerbaijan”
The case “Zakir Mustafayev and others v. Azerbaijan” involved allegations of torture and inhumane treatment during their detention following the “Nardaran events” of 2015.
In November 2015, a clash occurred between police officers and local residents in the Nardaran settlement on the outskirts of Baku. The confrontation resulted in the deaths of seven people (two police officers and five villagers), four injuries, and fourteen arrests.
Azerbaijani government to compensate detainees during “Nardaran events”
The Azerbaijani government will pay a total of 64,000 euros to eight detainees of 2015
The applicants claimed they were tortured to extract confessions.
They cited violations of Articles 3 and 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights, alleging they suffered various injuries, were denied access to their chosen lawyers, and their families were not informed of their arrests.
The ECHR found that Article 3 of the Convention had been violated in relation to each applicant.
The court also ruled that the material aspect of Article 3 was violated concerning Abbas Huseynov, Alibala Valiev, Abbas Guliyev, Rasim Jabrailov, and Ali Nuriyev.
According to the court’s decision, the government must pay €7,500 each to Abbas Huseynov, Alibala Valiev, Abbas Guliyev, Rasim Jabrailov, and Ali Nuriyev, and €5,000 each to Zakir Mustafayev and Ramin Yariyev.
Additionally, each applicant is to be compensated €1,000 for legal costs.
The applicants were represented at the ECHR by lawyers Elchin and Zibeyda Sadigova, Nemat Kerimli, Fariz Namazli, and Yalchin Imanov.
The Armenian Bar Association announced the recent appointment of its long-time member, Justice Gabrielle Wolohojian, to the Supreme Judicial Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Supreme Judicial Court is the Commonwealth’s highest appellate court and is comprised of a chief justice and six associate justices. In front of a capacity audience of friends, family, and colleagues, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey delivered a ceremonial administration of the oath of office in the Great Hall of the John Adams Courthouse in Boston.
Justice Wolohojian’s June 10, 2024 oath ceremony, which was attended by Armenian Bar leaders from around the country including members of the Executive Committee, marked a significant milestone as Wolohojian becomes the first Armenian-American woman to serve on the state’s, indeed on any state’s, highest court. This momentous occasion highlighted Justice Wolohojian’s exceptional legal career and underscored the significance of representation of Armenian-Americans in the judiciary. Wolohojian used her full name—Gabrielle Repsimé Wolohojian—as she swore the three requisite oaths.
Armenian Bar Delegation: Board Member Souren Israelyan, Massachusetts Bar Association Former President Marsha Kazarosian, Former United States Attorney for the Northern District of New York Richard S. Hartunian, Melanie Hagopian, Governor Maura Healey, Associate Justice Gabrielle R. Wolohojian, Chairwoman Lucy Varpetian, Immediate Past Chairwoman Taline Sahakian, Past Chairwoman Sonya Nersessian
Justice Wolohojian brings a wealth of experience and a sustained commitment to justice to the Supreme Judicial Court. Her distinguished career, marked by her 16-year tenure on the Massachusetts Appeals Court and her extensive contributions to legal scholarship and public service, exemplifies the dedication and excellence in which the Armenian community takes pride. Her appointment is a testament to her unwavering commitment to the rule of law and her passion for upholding justice for all.
In her acceptance remarks, Justice Wolohojian offered the following glimpse into the roots of her inspiration and humility: “Like all Armenian-Americans, my deepest dept of gratitude is owed to my family, not only to those who are present, but to those who are not, and particularly to our grandparents and great-grandparents, whose journeys of survival and sacrifice after the Armenian Genocide laid the foundation for the generations who followed them. Although involuntarily scattered across the globe, that first generation managed to take root in new countries. And here we are as lawyers, 110 years later, with an obligation to pay that debt forward through public service and pro bono work.”
In celebrating this landmark achievement, the Armenian Bar Association also reflects on the enduring legacies of Justice Armand Arabian and Justice Marvin Baxter, who previously paved the way for Armenian-Americans in the judiciary with their historic appointments to the California Supreme Court. Justice Arabian, appointed in 1990, and Justice Baxter, appointed in 1991, both served with distinction and left an indelible mark on California’s legal landscape.
“The appointment of Justice Gabrielle Wolohojian to the Supreme Judicial Court is a proud moment for the Armenian-American community and a testament to her exceptional legal acumen and dedication,” said Armenian Bar Association Chairwoman, Lucy Varpetian.
The Armenian Bar Association remains committed to supporting and promoting the advancement of Armenian-Americans in the legal profession. Justice Wolohojian’s appointment serves as a magnificent ideal to aspiring lawyers and a reminder of the importance of diversity and representation in the judiciary.
For more information about the Armenian Bar Association and its initiatives, please visit the website.
#Azerbaijan reports some of its positions in Nakhichevan exclave (Sharur, Ordubad and Shabuz regions) along the border with #Armenia came under small arms fire. Yerevan refutes the news as misinformation.
1.https://t.co/NRxyybsfDC
2.https://t.co/cT3EB4FVUv— Nagorno Karabakh Observer (@NKobserver) June 13, 2024