To those courageously defending values of freedom, democracy and human rights in the South Caucasus region.
This book is the result of years of research and knowledge gathered on the topic, which would not have been possible without the support of many wonderful people I had the privilege to enjoy throughout the process. It started as a PhD research in the School of Law of the Middlesex University in London in 2014, followed by implementation of multiple civil society and academic projects aimed to enhance compliance with judgments of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) across the Council of Europe, as well as litigation of human rights cases from the South Caucasus as the focus region before the Court. It has greatly contributed to the richness of the research in that it has provided in-depth insights into the particular domestic, often challenging, contexts that the implementation takes place in practice.
I therefore want to first express my deep gratitude to my interlocutors in Baku, Tbilisi, Yerevan, Strasbourg and London for their time and assistance in better understanding the implementation of the ECtHR judgments in the South Caucasus states, and the efforts taken and challenges faced by the Council of Europe supervision system. Thanks to them, the book is largely based on the enriching empirical research that I was able to undertake, along the desk research. I am particularly grateful to my colleagues and friends, human rights defenders in the South Caucasus states whose devotion to striving for better and freer lives for their societies I observe with deep respect. I am forever grateful to my supervisors, Professor Philip Leach and Dr Alice Donald, for their guidance, support and friendship – without it this research would not be a book today. Finally, I wish to express my admiration to my colleagues at the European Human Rights Advocacy Centre, based within the Law School of the Middlesex University, whose professionalism and dedication to the cause of human rights inspire me every day.