Baku court proceedings fall short of fairness standards: ICJ report

The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) has presented a report titled “Justice Under Pressure: The Independence of Lawyers and the Right to a Fair Trial in Azerbaijan,” in which it criticizes the trials of Armenians in Baku.

The document notes that the cases of former Nagorno-Karabakh officials vividly illustrate systemic problems in the Azerbaijani judicial system. Hearings were held predominantly behind closed doors, with access granted only to state media representatives, while international observers, foreign journalists, and relatives of the defendants were denied entry.

Particular attention is given to the trial of Ruben Vardanyan. The prosecution brought charges against him relating to the period of 1988, when he was a student at Moscow State University, even though his political activity did not begin until late 2022. The ICJ notes that such prosecution raises serious doubts about compliance with the principle of legality.

The Commission recommended that Azerbaijani judicial authorities ensure that appeals are heard in ordinary civil courts, that defense counsel be provided with case materials in a language the defendants can understand, and that sufficient time be allocated for preparation at all stages of the proceedings. The report also calls on the Council of Europe to secure access for observers to appellate hearings.