The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR or ECtHR), also known as the (name of city where it resides) Court, is an international court of the (Council of Europe or EU?) which interprets the (name of the international convention to protect human rights and political freedoms in Europe). The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR or ECtHR), also known as the Strasbourg Court, is an international court of the Council of Europe which interprets the European Convention on Human Rights. WHICH COUNTRIES DOES THE EUROPEAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS NOT HAVE JURISDICTION OVER? Azerbaijan Belarus Czech Republic Georgia Russia Turkey United Kingdom WHICH COUNTRIES DOES THE EUROPEAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS NOT HAVE JURISDICTION OVER? Azerbaijan Belarus Czech Republic Georgia Russia Turkey United Kingdom AZERBAIJAN Which religion does over 90 % of the Azerbaijani population belong to? Azerbaijani is closely related to a language spoken in another Council of Europe country. Which country is this? The civil and political rights situation in Azerbaijan is most similar to that in Poland, Ukraine or Belarus? How long has the ruling family been in power? 10 years, 20 years or 30 years? AZERBAIJAN Over 90% of the Azerbaijani population are Muslim. Interestingly, though, a 2010 Gallup Poll found 49% of Azerbaijanis answering no to the question "Is religion an important part of your daily life?", one of the highest rates among any Muslim-majority country. Azerbaijani is close to Turkish The civil and political rights situation in Azerbaijan is most similar to that in Belarus (also similar to the situation in China or Burma) How long has the ruling family been in power? 30 years (Heidar Aliyev 1993-2003, his son Ilham Aliyev since 2003) RUSSO-GEORGIAN WAR, AUGUST 2008 On 1 August 2008, the Russian-backed South Ossetian forces started shelling Georgian villages. To put an end to these attacks, Georgian army units were sent into the South Ossetian conflict zone on 7 August and took control of most of Tskhinvali, the capital of the region. Russia falsely accused Georgia of committing "genocide". It launched a full-scale land, air and sea invasion of Georgia, including its undisputed territory, on 8 August, referring to it as a "peace enforcement" operation. Russian and South Ossetian forces fought Georgian forces in and around South Ossetia for several days, until the Georgian forces retreated. The Russian air force attacked targets both within and beyond the conflict zone. Nicolas Sarkozy, the President of France, personally negotiated a ceasefire agreement on 12 August. RUSSO-GEORGIAN WAR, AUGUST 2008 Russian forces temporarily occupied several Georgian cities, holding on to these areas beyond the ceasefire. The South Ossetians destroyed most ethnic Georgian villages in South Ossetia and were responsible for an ethnic cleansing of Georgians. Russia recognised the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia from Georgia on 26 August. Russia mostly completed its withdrawal of troops from undisputed parts of Georgia on 8 October. Russian international relations were largely unharmed. The war displaced 192,000 people. While many returned to their homes after the war, 20,272 people, mostly ethnic Georgians, remained displaced as of 2014. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russo-Georgian_War GUESTS: Ramute Remezaite Senior Legal Consultant and Implementation Lead at the European Human Rights Advocacy Centre (EHRAC), School of Law, Middlesex University Ketevan Abashidze Senior Human Rights Officer, Human Rights House Foundation (HRHF) formerly Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA) Based on what you read on the ECtHR pending cases of the country you are interested in, tell the students in your group about one major human rights issue the country needs to deal with.