Handling extradition requests requires courts to balance two important responsibilities. States must support international co-operation in fighting crime while ensuring that no person is returned to a country where they could face torture, ill-treatment, or an unfair trial.

National courts, in particular the Court of Cassation, must therefore assess carefully each individual case.

These challenges are becoming increasingly relevant as the number of extradition requests continues to grow, including from non-Council of Europe member States. 

To support national authorities in addressing these challenges, a workshop held on 18 March brought together judges of the Court of Cassation, representatives of the General Prosecutor’s Office, and officials from the Office of the Representative of Armenia on International Legal Matters.

Together with the representatives of the Department for the Execution of Judgments of the European Court of Human Rights and Council of Europe experts, participants discussed legal and practical challenges and explored ways to ensure consistent application of European human rights standards.

In his opening remarks, Maxime Longangué, Head of the Council of Europe Office in Yerevan, expressed his sincere appreciation to the national partners for their close co-operation and unwavering commitment. He underlined: “The workshop is part of a broader effort to build lasting capacity. No doubt strong professional dialogue between institutions is essential to address emerging challenges and promote consistent legal practice”.

Lilit Tadevosyan, the President of the Court of Cassation of the Republic of Armenia expressed gratitude to the Council of Europe for the initiative to organise the workshop, noting that the Court of Cassation actively cooperates with its institutions and emphasising the importance of the Council of Europe’s mission in the Republic of Armenia in promoting human rights, the rule of law, and the development of democratic institutions. Ms Tadevosyan further noted that the discussions on the topics included in the agenda of the workshop will greatly facilitate the effective application of progressive international standards in several key areas.

In her welcome speech Prosecutor General Anna Vardapetyan welcomed the organisation of the event in this engaging interagency format and noted: ‘’It is very important to discuss the specifics of the practical application of extradition in particular within the context of the European Court of Human Rights judgments and interagency co-operation’’.

The workshop was organised by the Council of Europe as part of its project “Further Support to the Implementation of the ECHR through effective execution of the European Court of Human Rights judgments in Armenia” implemented within the Council of Europe Action Plan for Armenia 2023-2026.