THE HAGUE (Reuters) – Armenia filed a case at the World Court asserting that Azerbaijan has violated an international treaty on racial discrimination, the court said on Thursday.

A spokesperson for Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs claimed that Azerbaijan would vigorously defend itself and plan to counter-suit Armenia.

Azeri forces drove the ethnic Armenian troops from large swathes they controlled in the Nagorno Karabakh region. This was before Russia brokered the ceasefire.

The court stated that Armenia had filed a complaint against Azerbaijan alleging it has subjected Armenians to racial discrimination for “decades” violating the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination to which both countries are signatories.

According to the suit, Azerbaijan “continued in the murder and torture of Armenian hostages, prisoners of war and other detained persons” since the Nov. 10, ceasefire.

“Armenia therefore requests the Court to hold Azerbaijan responsible for its violations … to prevent future harm, and to redress the harm that has already been caused,” it said.

Azerbaijan’s spokesperson stated that Armenia has been collecting evidence regarding Armenian violations of human rights against Azerbaijanis, and would be filing its own lawsuit at the court in just a few days.

Formerly known as the International Court of Justice (UN court) for the resolution of disputes between nations, the world court is also called the International Court of Justice. It is yet to decide if it has jurisdiction.