On June 22, Head of the Council of Europe (CoE) Office in Baku, Petr Zix, was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Axar.az reports that during the meeting, strong objection was expressed to the June 18 decision adopted by the European Court of Human Rights against Azerbaijan, and it was emphasized that the ruling is unfair, biased, and contrary to the provisions of international law.

It was noted that while the Court’s June 16, 2016 judgment in the case of “Chiragov and Others v. Armenia” established the fact of Armenia’s effective occupation of Azerbaijani territories and confirmed that the occupation regime existed through Armenia’s direct military and financial support, the current decision’s reference to those territories as the “NKR” as an independent entity contradicts international law and judicial procedures.

In addition, objection was raised to the use of terminology in the Court’s decision that contradicts Azerbaijan’s internationally recognized sovereignty and territorial integrity. It was stated that references such as the “line of contact between Azerbaijan and the ‘NKR’,” as well as mentions of the army, authorities, prosecutor general, and ombudsman of the so-called regime, amount to an attempt to legitimize the former illegal separatist regime.

During the meeting, it was stressed that the Republic of Azerbaijan firmly rejects the Court’s decision and that the Azerbaijani side will consider all possible means and take appropriate steps to protect its legitimate interests.