Azerbaijan Files Legal Claim Against Armenia Over Environmental Damages

Azerbaijan has initiated legal proceedings against Armenia in the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, citing extensive environmental damage in regions previously under Armenian control. The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry claims Armenia engaged in widespread deforestation, unsustainable logging, mining, and hydropower construction, leading to irreversible harm to local biodiversity and habitats. This lawsuit marks the first inter-state arbitration under the 1979 Bern Convention, which Armenia allegedly violated. Azerbaijan seeks full reparations for the environmental destruction caused during Armenia's occupation, including damage to ancient forests and wildlife. The legal action follows Azerbaijan's military reclaiming of Nagorno-Karabakh in 2023 and aims to hold Armenia accountable for its ecological impact. Diplomatic relations between the two nations remain strained, complicating peace efforts.