Iravunk: The Complaint from Artur Badalyan, who Spent 22 Months in Azeri Inhumane Hostage, was Registered by the European Court

The Vanadzor Center for Strategic Litigation Human Rights NGO received a notice from the European Court of Human Rights, advising that the complaint from Artur Badalyan, who spent approximately 2 years as an  Azeri hostage and subjected to inhumane deprivations, was registered.

The notice stated that the acceptance of the appeal would be discussed as soon as possible.

In August 2011, the Vanadzor Center for Strategic Litigation Human Rights NGOsent a complaint to the European Court for Human Rights, with a claim to recognize the captivity of a resident of Haghartsin Village, Artur Badalyan, and the torture exerted against him, as violations of Article 3, 5 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

The president of the organization, Advocate Edmon Marukyan states that by keeping Artur Badalyan captive on the Azerbaijani side, they have violated Parts 1, 2, 3, 4 of Article 5 of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and Article 3 of the European Convention, which state that no one should be subjected to torture, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment. 

On May 9, 2009, a resident of Haghartsin Village, Tavush Region went to collect mushrooms with his friends and upon becoming separated from his friends near Berd, lost his way and fell into the enemy’s hands.

“Someone asked for a cigarette in Armenian and I gave him one. He said no more, only stated in Russian “Do not be afraid”. Then several people came and took me away”, recalled Artur. “Bad things came into my mind. I thought I would never get back home and I thought they were taking me to a Bayram feast to slaughter me”. 

The Azerbaijani first took Badalyan to a bordering village and later to Ghazakh, Baku and then back again to Ghazakh.

During the 2 years, the hostage was not allowed to take a walk; he often took care of his basic needs in the same cell he was held captive in. He was given a cold shower every 2-3 months outside in cold weather, with a squirt of cold water. 

Human rights activist Artur Sakunts, Chairman of Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly-Vanadzor,  a human rights organization, believes that the examination of this case by the European Court of Human Rights is a precedent in legal practice.

“The issues of the NK conflict victims are becoming a subject for political manipulation instead of being distinguished from it. This action is a step to distinguishing it”, Sakunts is convinced.

According to the human rights activist, this process can have a crucial impact from the perspective of providing human rights protection during the conflict.

That advocates state that it will take a minimum of one and a half to two and a half years for the European Court of Human Rights to take the case into proceedings.

“We will have a legal document, by which it will be possible to carry out preventive actions to avoid possible violations of human rights”, hopes Sakunts.

Source: www.medialab.am