Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said he has never equated the actions of Armenia and Azerbaijan, commenting on the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruling in the case involving Major Toroyan, Pastinfo reported.

The ECHR ruling found that Azerbaijan had launched and carried out a war crime by attacking Artsakh. A journalist also recalled Pashinyan's earlier statement that he would not raise such issues because "the sword has two edges," despite the absence of any comparable court ruling against the Armenian side.

"How can you equate the actions of Armenia and Azerbaijan? Are you going to hold those state criminals accountable?" the journalist asked.

Pashinyan responded: "It was the 'Kaluga oligarch' who equated Armenia and Azerbaijan by issuing an appeal to both countries during the 44-day war. What I am saying is that peace has been established, and that peace must be protected. Otherwise, it can easily be shattered."

On June 18, the European Court of Human Rights published its judgment in the case V.T. and Others v. Azerbaijan. The case concerns the torture and beheading of Armenian serviceman H.T., who had been rendered hors de combat after being wounded by Azerbaijani armed forces during the four-day war in April 2016.

Following the ECHR judgment, Azerbaijan sent a diplomatic note of protest to the Court regarding the ruling delivered in Armenia's favor.