European Court of Human Rights Rules Azerbaijan Tortured, Mutilated and Killed Armenian Officer Hayk Toroyan During 2016 Four-Day War, Returning His Body Without a Head and Hands

The European Court of Human Rights has delivered its first judgment related to the April 2016 Four-Day War between Armenia and Azerbaijan, ruling that Azerbaijan violated the fundamental rights of Armenian Major Hayk Toroyan, who was tortured and killed during the war.

In a landmark decision, the Strasbourg-based court found that Azerbaijani forces were responsible for the unlawful killing and torture of Toroyan after he had become defenseless during military clashes near the village of Talish. The court ordered Azerbaijan to compensate the victim’s family and take steps to identify and hold accountable both those who carried out the abuse and those who ordered it.

The case, V.T. and Others v. Azerbaijan (Application No. 20075/16), was brought by Toroyan’s parents and sister, who argued that the officer was captured alive, tortured, mutilated, and killed during the four-day conflict that erupted in April 2016.

According to findings cited by the court, Toroyan’s military vehicle was ambushed near the line of contact. Investigative materials and forensic evidence submitted during the proceedings indicated that he suffered severe injuries and was subsequently subjected to extreme violence. His body was later recovered without his head and hands.

The court concluded that Azerbaijan violated Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which guarantees the right to life. It also found violations of Article 3, which prohibits torture and inhuman or degrading treatment, both in relation to Toroyan’s treatment and the suffering inflicted on his family.

The judges noted that the circumstances of the case demonstrated that the Armenian officer had been subjected to torture before his death. The court further recognized the profound psychological suffering endured by his relatives, who were unable to recover all of his remains and provide a complete burial.

As part of the ruling, the ECHR awarded €60,000 in non-pecuniary damages to Toroyan’s parents, €30,000 to his sister, and €14,210 to cover legal costs and expenses.

The judgment is the first ECHR ruling connected to the April 2016 war, during which dozens of soldiers and civilians were killed on both sides. The court noted that numerous allegations from that conflict remain under review, including claims that several bodies were returned mutilated, with missing heads, hands, and other body parts.

Speaking to The Armenian Report, human rights attorney Siranush Sahakyan, who represents Armenian prisoners of war and is part of the legal team involved in the case, said the decision could have broader implications for accountability efforts surrounding wartime abuses.

“This outcome is the result of the efforts of the victims and their legal representatives. It is true that the Armenian government joined the proceedings as a third party back in 2017. We also have ongoing cases concerning women affected during the war,” Sahakyan said.

“At this stage, we expect other April War cases to be published soon. We have submitted 23 cases directly related to Azerbaijan’s war crimes. The legal team plans to hold a press conference on June 24, where we will present in greater detail the current status of these cases and what has been achieved so far.”

According to Sahakyan, more than 20 additional judgments related to the April 2016 conflict are expected in the coming months. Many of those cases concern allegations of torture and other serious abuses committed against Armenian servicemen during the war.

The ruling is expected to become a significant reference point in ongoing international efforts to document and establish accountability for alleged war crimes committed during the brief but deadly conflict that preceded the larger 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war.

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