On 27 September 2020 the European Court of Human Rights received a request for an interim measure, lodged by Armenia against Azerbaijan, concerning the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh. The request was lodged under application number 42521/20 (Armenia v. Azerbaijan).
On 29 September 2020 the Court granted an interim measure (Rule 39 of the Rules of Court) in that case (see the press releases of 28.9.2020 and 30.9.2020). On 4 October 2020 the Court received a request for an interim measure, lodged by Armenia against Turkey, also in relation to the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh. This request was registered as application no. 43517/20 (Armenia v. Turkey).
On 6 October 2020 the Court decided to apply Rule 39 of the Rules of Court for a second time. It called on all States directly or indirectly involved in the conflict, including Turkey, to refrain from actions that would contribute to breaches of the Convention rights of civilians and to respect their obligations under the Convention (see the press release of 6.10.2020).
On 17 November 2020 the Government of Turkey requested that the Court reconsider its decision and lift the second interim measure. They referred to the statement signed on 9 November 2020 by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia and the President of the Russian Federation, declaring an end to hostilities in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with effect from midnight on 10 November 2020.
On 1 December 2020 the Court reconsidered the above application in the light of the information provided by the Government of Turkey and decided, in view of that information, to lift the interim measure indicated on 6 October 2020 in the case of Armenia v. Turkey.
The other decisions taken by the Court under Rule 39 with regard to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, including the interim measure indicated on 29 September 2020 in the case of Armenia v. Azerbaijan remain in force (see the press release of 30.9.2020 and the statement on requests for interim measures concerning the conflict in and around Nagorno-Karabakh of 4.11.2020).
List of Inter-State cases in relation to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and previous press releases Armenia v. Azerbaijan no. 42521/20, lodged on 27 September 2020 Link to previous press releases:
28.9.2020 and 30.9.2020 Armenia v. Turkey no. 43517/20, lodged on 4 October 2020 Link to previous press releases: 6.10.2020 and 14.10.2020 Azerbaijan v. Armenia no. 47319/20, lodged on 27 October 2020
Link to previous press release: 27.10.2020 Link to the Statement on requests for interim measures concerning the conflict in and around Nagorno-Karabakh (of 4.11.2020).
Links to related documents Rule 39 of the Rules of Court Factsheet on interim measures Inter-State cases