Chiragov and Others v. Armenia

13216/05) against the Republic of Armenia lodged with the Court under Article 34 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms by six Azerbaijani nationals on 6 April 2005.

The applicants alleged,[2] in particular, that they were prevented from returning to the district of Lachin in territory occupied by the respondent Government, that they were thus unable to enjoy their property and homes located there, and that they had not received any compensation for their losses.

They submitted the following proofs: The Strasbourg Court ruled that Armenia exercises effective control over Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding territories, including the district of Lachin.

The Court dismissed preliminary objections of Armenia based on the grounds of jurisdiction, the applicants' victim status, and non-exhaustion of domestic remedies.

[11] Armenia was ordered to pay 5,000 euros in respect of pecuniary and non-pecuniary damage to each of the applicants and a total amount of 28,642.87 pounds sterling for costs and expenses.

According to Laurence Broers, Research Associate at the SOAS Centre of Contemporary Central Asia and the Caucasus, through its ruling, the European Court of Human Rights acknowledged the ambivalence of the NKR's claim to a separate sovereignty.