Artsakh residents appeal to the ECHR over property loss and violation of the right to return

In October 2024, human rights defenders established the “International Legal Initiative for Artsakh” to document violations of the rights and losses of Artsakh residents in the language of international law. Together with partners, they carried out extensive legal work to protect the rights of forcibly displaced persons from Nagorno-Karabakh.

Thousands of people have been deprived of the ability to exercise their fundamental rights, including the right to property and the right to live in their homeland. Their property has come under Azerbaijan’s control, which violates the provisions of the European Convention on Human Rights.

The only effective tool for protection remains обращения to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). The first applications were filed at the end of 2024, and by April 2026, more than 500 complaints from over 1,000 affected individuals have already been submitted.

The applicants’ goal is to secure recognition of the violations and the restoration of justice, including the right to collective return. The complaints are accompanied by personal accounts, documents, and photographs reflecting the loss of property and difficult living conditions.

Similar cases have previously been examined by the ECHR regarding Cyprus and Karabakh, creating precedents for the current applications. The initiative continues its work, seeking to support all displaced persons and promote the issue of the right to return at the international level.