World Court calls on Azerbaijan and Armenia to prevent racial hatred, calls on Azerbaijan to protect Armenian heritage

YEREVAN / BAKU — After the Armenian–Azerbaijani war over Nagorno-Karabakh, the two countries had asked the World Court in The Hague to stop violations of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD). The Court has since called on both sides to ensure they are taking all measures to prevent racial hatred.

President of the Court Joan E. Donoghue, however, singled out Azerbaijan in his recent statement.

On Tuesday, the Court called on Azerbaijan to protect the Armenian prisoners in Azerbaijani prisons from violence and physical harm and to ensure that they are treated according to the law after accusations of ill-treatment were reported.

The Court also called on Azerbaijan to prevent plunder and vandalization of Armenian cultural heritage, including churches.

The Court rejected an Azerbaijani appeal to prevent Armenia from laying landmines and force it to hand over a map of mined areas, noting that this is not stipulated in the CERD.

In September, just one week apart, the two countries filed before the Court two contradictory lawsuits accusing each other of violating the CERD.

Recent satellite imagery shows the systematic destruction of Armenian cemeteries in Karabakh by Azerbaijan.