Abstract
<jats:p>The article addresses the continuous violation of the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion of persons forcibly displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh as a result of the 2022 blockade and the September 2023 military attack. The violation is examined in the context of the displaced population’s inability to visit the graves of their relatives in Nagorno-Karabakh and perform religious and ritual ceremonies there. The article highlights the crucial role of religion in shaping the individual as a person (subject), particularly in the development of moral perceptions and self-awareness. It analyzes the case law of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) concerning Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), paying special attention to the internal (forum internum) and external (forum externum) dimensions of freedom of religion. It is emphasized that participation in religious rites and ceremonies is a central form of expressing religious beliefs. The article distinguishes between acts that constitute an essential part of religious expression and those merely inspired by religion, relying on ECtHR precedent. It is stressed that the Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh, as followers of the Armenian Apostolic Church, has been deprived - due to forced displacement - of the opportunity to visit the graves of their relatives and perform religious rites there. In light of ECtHR jurisprudence, this is substantiated as a continuing violation of the right guaranteed by Article 9 of the ECHR.</jats:p>