On December 9, Armenia hosted the session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights. The session welcomed PACE Secretary General Despina Chatzivassiliou-Tsovilis, who was received by Armenian National Assembly Speaker Alen Simonyan before the meeting. They discussed organizational matters related to the event at the Armenian Parliament.
The session participants were first addressed remotely by PACE President Theodoros Roussopoulos, followed by opening remarks from Alen Simonyan, who emphasized the importance of the agenda in the context of protecting human rights.
Amid the PACE session, the issue of prisoner returns between Armenia and Azerbaijan remained a significant point of discussion. Armenia’s Representative for International Legal Affairs, Yeghishe Kirakosyan, spoke with journalists, addressing the limitations of international courts in resolving the matter. He noted that both the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) consider the issue of prisoner returns outside their immediate jurisdiction, effectively shifting it to the political domain.
Kirakosyan explained that while legal processes do not directly resolve prisoner returns, they serve to guarantee the rights of those detained. He highlighted that current legal proceedings, including claims at international courts, are ongoing and procedural measures continue to ensure the cases move forward.
Regarding Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s statement suggesting that Armenia and Azerbaijan could withdraw mutual claims from international courts after a peace treaty is signed, Kirakosyan stated that such an issue is not on the current agenda. Addressing rumors of disagreements with the Prime Minister over this matter, he declined to comment, stating it would be inappropriate to discuss personal opinions.
Kirakosyan also noted that Azerbaijan has filed cases against Armenia in both the ECHR and the ICJ and that there are two ongoing arbitration processes.
The issue of prisoner returns remains a sensitive topic. According to Kirakosyan, it has been raised in various platforms but is predominantly discussed in political contexts. Legal proceedings, on the other hand, primarily ensure the protection of the rights of detained individuals.
The PACE session continues, focusing on human rights and justice-related issues, highlighting the interplay between legal and political dimensions in complex international disputes.