Application of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Azerbaijan v. Armenia) - The Republic of Azerbaijan requests the Court to indicate provisional mea

INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE
Peace Palace, Carnegieplein 2, 2517 KJ The Hague, Netherlands
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Press Release
Unofficial
No. 2023/1
5 January 2023
Application of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms
of Racial Discrimination (Azerbaijan v. Armenia)
The Republic of Azerbaijan requests the Court to indicate provisional measures
THE HAGUE, 5 January 2023.Yesterday, the Republic of Azerbaijan filed in the Registry of
the International Court of Justice, the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, a request for the
indication of provisional measures in the case concerning Application of the International
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Azerbaijan v. Armenia),
referring to Article 41 of the Statute of the Court and Article 73, 74 and 75 of the Rules of Court.
In its Request, Azerbaijan states that “new evidence has emerged that Armenia, contradicting
representations it made to the Court in 2021, deliberately continued to lay landmines in or after 2021
in civilian zones to which displaced Azerbaijanis are slated to return” and that “[i]n October 2022,
Azerbaijan also discovered booby traps in civilian homes that were planted or facilitated by
Armenia’s forces”. Azerbaijan adds that “[u]rgent action is needed to stem the mounting casualities
caused in recent weeks by Armenia’s actions”.
Azerbaijan requests the Court to indicate the following provisional measures:
“(a) Armenia shall immediately take all necessary steps to enable Azerbaijan to
undertake the prompt, safe and effective demining of the towns, villages, and other
areas to which Azerbaijani civilians will return in the Lachin District, Kalbajar
District and other formerly occupied districts of Azerbaijan, including by providing
information about the location, quantity, type and characteristics of landmines,
booby traps and any other explosive devices in these areas, in order to enable
Azerbaijani internally displaced persons to return to their homes; and
(b) Armenia shall immediately cease and desist from any further efforts to plant or to
sponsor or support the planting of landmines and booby traps in these areas to which
Azerbaijani civilians will return in Azerbaijan’s territory, including, but not limited
to, the use of the Lachin Corridor for this purpose”.
Pursuant to Article 74 of the Rules of the Court, “[a] request for the indication of provisional
measures shall have priority over all other cases”.
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History of the proceedings
The history of the proceedings can be found in press releases Nos. 2021/21, 2021/24, 2021/28,
2021/32 and 2021/35, available on the Court’s website.
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Note: The Court’s press releases are prepared by its Registry for information purposes only
and do not constitute official documents.
Azerbaijan’s Request for provisional measures will be available shortly on the Court’s
website.
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The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations.
It was established by the United Nations Charter in June 1945 and began its activities in April 1946.
The Court is composed of 15 judges elected for a nine-year term by the General Assembly and the
Security Council of the United Nations. The seat of the Court is at the Peace Palace in The Hague
(Netherlands). The Court has a twofold role: first, to settle, in accordance with international law,
through judgments which have binding force and are without appeal for the parties concerned, legal
disputes submitted to it by States; and, second, to give advisory opinions on legal questions referred
to it by duly authorized United Nations organs and agencies of the system.
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Information Department:
Ms Monique Legerman, First Secretary of the Court, Head of Department (+31 (0)70 302 2336)
Ms Joanne Moore, Information Officer (+31 (0)70 302 2337)
Mr. Avo Sevag Garabet, Associate Information Officer (+31 (0)70 302 2394)
Ms Genoveva Madurga, Administrative Assistant (+31 (0)70 302 2396)