More than 100,000 people who fled Nagorno-Karabakh for Armenia in 2023 have been supported by lawyers filing nearly 600 applications on behalf of 1,200 individuals to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). The region has been under the control of Armenian separatists since the conflict began, and the court has previously found rights violations committed by both Azerbaijan and Armenia during earlier stages of the dispute.
The initial process of submitting applications to the ECHR is complex and often requires legal expertise, which poses a challenge for many victims of human rights violations. According to Daria Sartori, a Paris-based human rights lawyer with prior experience at the court, many applicants cannot afford specialized legal representation without pro bono assistance. The court’s regulations do not allow for legal aid before an application is formally filed, making volunteer legal support essential in helping victims access justice.
In parallel, pro bono legal teams have played a significant role in a related high-profile case against Russia concerning abuses in Ukraine. Representing Ukraine’s Ministry of Justice, the coalition included Kyiv-based Asters Law and prominent lawyers from the United Kingdom, such as Ben Emmerson KC, Tim Otty KC, and Lord Verdirame KC, as well as members of Blackstone Chambers, Twenty Essex, and Quinn Emanuel. In July 2025, the ECHR held Russia responsible for extensive human rights violations in occupied eastern Ukraine since 2014, citing crimes such as summary executions, rape, torture, looting, and destruction of property.
Julianne Hughes-Jennett, a partner at Quinn Emanuel and lead counsel in the Ukrainian case, described the court’s ruling as an overwhelming finding of Russia’s accountability for widespread abuses. Although the enforcement of any monetary compensation remains uncertain, especially since Russia has withdrawn from the European Convention on Human Rights and often disregards court orders, the ruling establishes a formal record of the violations. Oksana Legka, a Kyiv-based partner at Asters, emphasized that the judgment gives victims a chance to be heard and raises international awareness of the abuses.
Pro bono lawyers involved in these efforts highlight both the importance of their work and the challenges they face, particularly the ongoing shortage of resources and volunteers. Legka noted that while she cannot serve on the front lines, deploying legal expertise in what she calls the “legal battlefield” is a critical contribution.
Efforts to address violations linked to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict have been ongoing for years. Aslan Avetisyan, a coordinator of a legal assistance project in Armenia, reported that 577 related applications have been filed at the ECHR on behalf of victims, with another 650 applications nearing completion through the support of local lawyers and law students. Templates created by the collaborative initiative have facilitated the preparation of these cases.
These submissions build on earlier claims dating back to 2005, when a group of Azerbaijanis filed complaints related to losses suffered during the First Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict, which displaced hundreds of thousands amid territorial disputes. The continued influx of applications reflects sustained engagement by the legal community to seek accountability and redress for victims of these protracted conflicts.