Lawyers: The ECHR`s ruling on Azerbaijan`s liability for the torture and murder of an Armenian soldier has entered into force.

ArmInfo. The decision of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) confirming Azerbaijan's responsibility for the torture and murder of an Armenian serviceman has entered into force. Azerbaijan's diplomatic complaints and attempts to refer the case to the Grand Chamber were unsuccessful, according to a statement received by ArmInfo from the legal team handling the case.

"In our assessment, this result provides an important legal basis for the protection of victims of armed conflicts and their families. On November 2, 2026, a panel of five judges of the Grand Chamber rejected the Azerbaijani government's request to refer the case of V. T. and Others v. Azerbaijan to the Grand Chamber. Thus, the Court's decision of June 18, 2026, has become final and binding. The applicants are the soldier's parents and sister, who applied to the ECHR on April 13, 2016. Their interests were represented by our legal team, consisting of Ara Ghazaryan, Haykuhi Harutyunyan, Araks Melkonyan, Artak Zeynalyan, Hasmik Harutyunyan, and Siranush Sahakyan," the statement reads.

"The torture and murder of a wounded and defenseless soldier cannot be justified by war. The court upheld Azerbaijan's responsibility and also recognized the violation of the rights of the family members. Azerbaijan's denials and the appeal to the Grand Chamber did not change this result," the lawyers' statement emphasized.

It is recalled that during the war in April 2016, Major Hayk Toroyan's military vehicle was attacked by an Azerbaijani sabotage group near Talish. He was wounded and could no longer move or defend himself.

The Court confirmed that in this state, Azerbaijani soldiers tortured him and killed him by beheading. Violations of the right to life guaranteed by Article 2 of the Convention and the prohibition of torture under Article 3 were found. The Court also separately assessed the suffering of the family. The brutal murder of their relative, the dismemberment of his body, and the inability to find the missing body parts and organize a proper burial caused the parents and sister severe and ongoing mental suffering. In these circumstances, the Court also found a violation of their rights due to degrading treatment prohibited by Article 3 of the Convention.

Azerbaijan attempted to deny the involvement of its soldiers and exclude its responsibility, citing a lack of control over territory. The Court confirmed that the soldier was under the effective authority and control of Azerbaijani forces. Azerbaijan's account also contradicted official statements from Azerbaijan and published video footage. The objection that the family should have first approached the Azerbaijani authorities was also dismissed. The Court took into account the practical and systemic obstacles faced by the Armenian applicants and noted that Azerbaijan does not provide effective remedies for ethnic Armenians," the statement continued.

The legal team also reported that following the publication of the verdict, Azerbaijan also expressed its dissatisfaction at the diplomatic level. On June 22, 2026, the head of the Baku Office of the Council of Europe was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan. The Azerbaijani side called the verdict unfair and biased, objecting in particular to the wording regarding the name "Nagorno-Karabakh Republic" and its organs.

"Azerbaijan's dissatisfaction and the attempt to refer the case to the Grand Chamber did not change the final legally just outcome of the case. The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe will monitor the implementation of the final verdict. We also inform you that our legal team has filed complaints with the ECHR regarding other war crimes committed during the Four-Day War of 2016, for which we await further judicial decisions," the lawyers reported.

As a reminder, the ECHR, in its June 18 ruling, ordered Azerbaijan to pay 90,000 euros in compensation to the relatives of an Armenian soldier tortured and killed during the Four-Day War around Artsakh. The lawsuit was filed by the parents and sister of Artsakh Defense Army Major Hayk Toroyan.