Background

The Azerbaijani courts ruled in favour of the eviction of a displaced family who were illegally occupying Valentina Akimova’s property – but indefinitely postponed taking any action against them.

In 1997, Valentina had lent her modest apartment to an acquaintance who said he would carry out vital repair works.

However, the man subsequently moved in relatives who, four years earlier, had been forced to leave the Agdam region of the country, which had come under Armenian military control during the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh in the early 1990s.

When Valentina found out the family were occupying her apartment, she asked them to leave. They refused to do so, saying they had nowhere else to go.

Valentina then tried to get the courts to evict the strangers.

Following a long legal battle, the Azerbaijani courts upheld Valentina’s request, ruling that her tenancy rights were undisputed, and that the family should leave.

However, the courts decided to postpone the implementation of the judgment until the family were able to return to Agdam.

By the time the European Court of Human Rights examined Valentina’s case, Agdam remained under the control of Armenian forces and the family were still living in her apartment.