Baku trying to distort ICJ rulings

Yesterday, the UN International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued judgments on the application of a number of urgent measures by Armenia and Azerbaijan against each other under the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. The court ruled in favor of almost all Armenian claims, rejected most of those by Azerbaijan. Despite this, the Azerbaijani propaganda machine is engaged in calming down and manipulating its own society.

Apparently, Baku did not expect that its main demands would be rejected by the court. The first, of course, was the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry, which issued a statement welcoming the court decision. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan notes that the court rejected a number of motions submitted by Armenia against Azerbaijan in connection with the immediate release of Armenian prisoners of war and the closure of the “Trophy Park”, naturally resorting to manipulations.

The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry, however, does not note that the court largely upheld Armenia’s motions against Baku, which must be implemented. These theses of the Foreign Ministry statement were quickly spread by the Azerbaijani media, which tried to present the court decision as a “victory of Azerbaijan,” noting that Armenia’s demands were not satisfied. First of all, it should be noted that the court did not oblige Baku to return the Armenian captives immediately, as, according to the Court, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination is not relevant. Armenia may file a lawsuit under another convention. However, the court obliged Azerbaijan to ensure the protection of the rights of Armenian prisoners of war. The court noted that the rights of Armenian captives during their detention in Azerbaijan should not be violated due to their ethnicity, the rights of prisoners presented by Armenia, who were detained during and after the 2020 hostilities, should be respected.

As for “Trophy Park,” it should be noted that the court did not reject Armenia’s demand to close it, but took note of the earlier statements of Azerbaijan that the helmets and mannequins of the Armenian soldiers were removed and will never be displayed again.

The court also ordered Azerbaijan to take steps to prevent racial hatred and discrimination, including by state officials and various public organizations targeting ethnic Armenians. The court here clearly states that Azerbaijan is engaged in anti-Armenian and discriminatory policies at the state level, in contrast to the measure applied against Armenia, which refers to organizations and individuals.

In addition, the Court upheld one of Armenia’s demands – to take all measures to prevent and punish the vandalism of the Armenian cultural heritage, not only of churches, but also of places of worship, monuments, memorials, graves, etc.

The court rejected the main demand of Azerbaijan against the mandatory provision of maps of minefields. That is, Armenia has no obligation to transfer the maps to Azerbaijan. Embarrassed by this decision, the Azeri media first reported that the Court had granted the request and made a decision to provide maps, then Azerbaijani authorities’ mouthpieces reported that, according to government sources, Armenia, “fearing a fair court decision,” provided them a few days ago.” According to the Court decision, Azerbaijan has not been able to prove its accusations on that point, to substantiate that it does not comply with the convention.