In the first half of 2023, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) adopted at least 60 rulings and decisions on Azerbaijan, which were issued on the basis of 180 applications, “the report of the Media Law Group “ECHR – Azerbaijan, 2023: semi-annual analysis”, published by the head of the group Khalid Agaliyev.
These statistics significantly exceed the figures of the same period last year, when 55 decisions and resolutions were adopted on the basis of 170 applications from Azerbaijan.
In the first half of 2023, 25 resolutions on complaints from Azerbaijan were essentially adopted. In 24 cases of them, at least one of the alleged violations of rights was recognized. In one case, the violation of rights was not recognized.
At the same time, during the same period of 2022, 23 resolutions were essentially adopted, in which a violation of at least one right was recognized.
In the first half of 2023, the ECHR recognized the most violations of property rights in cases in Azerbaijan.
In particular, 21 applicants were found to have violated the Article 1 (protection of property) of Protocol No. 1 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
In respect of 14 applicants, a violation of the right to a fair trial was found, 8 – freedom of assembly,
At the same time, the Government recognized violations of the rights under Articles 3 (prohibition of torture) and 13 (right to effective legal protection) in respect of 8 applicants, twenty applicants – Article 5 (right to freedom and personal inviolability), thirty–six applicants – Article 6 (right to a fair trial).
For comparison, it is noted that in 2021 and 2022, the decisions and rulings of the ECHR most recognized violations of the rights to freedom and personal integrity, the right not to be subjected to torture and the right to a fair trial.
In the first half of the year, the ECHR adopted 35 decisions on Azerbaijan, which covered 135 applications. These decisions were based on amicable agreements between the Government and the parties and unilateral statements by the Government to recognize the violation of rights or the non-admissibility of complaints.
In the first half of 2022, 33 decisions were made on 91 applications on the same grounds.
In the first half of the year, the ECHR began communication with the government on 32 applications. Most of all, these cases raise questions about the violation of the rights to freedom and personal integrity, to a fair trial and freedom of expression.
In the first half of 2023, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe closed control over the execution of 7 resolutions against 15 applicants.
So far, out of 407 resolutions on Azerbaijan, control has been completed on 105, that is, 26 percent. At the same time, 302 resolutions are awaiting their execution, that is, 74 percent of their total number.
In the first half of 2023, compensations for 551 thousand euros were assigned for cases from Azerbaijan. Of these, 187 thousand euros were assigned for cases considered on the merits, 251 thousand euros for settlement agreements and 112 thousand euros for decisions made on the basis of unilateral statements of the government.