The European Union has expressed its concerns over the conclusions of the February 4 OSCE report on trial monitoring in Azerbaijan. “The report shows that in some important respects, the trials fell well short of Azerbaijan’s existing legal requirements and its international commitments on human rights and the rule of law.” The report also called for publication of the results of the investigation into the excessive use of force by security forces during the post-election riots on October 16, 2003. (16-FEB-2005)

The EU statement further said that its particular concern “are the extensive, credible allegations of torture and ill-treatment of detainees, the absence of adequate legal action or remedies in the face of these serious allegations and the acceptance by the courts of evidence said to have been obtained by torture and coercion.”

Wide-ranging inquiry
The European Union also called on the Azerbaijani Government to undertake a wide-ranging and independent inquiry into these allegations as soon as possible. It also called for publication of the results of the investigation into the excessive use of force by security forces during the post-election riots on October 16, 2003.
“The EU endorses the opinion set out in the OSCE report that persons, convicted or sentenced in trials which were not conducted properly should have their convictions cancelled or commuted and should be retired or released from custody.

The European Union also said it is pleased that the Azerbaijani authorities are willing to continue their cooperation with the OSCE and urged them to follow the recommendations contained in the OSCE report on trial monitoring.
“The EU is ready to assist Azerbaijan in implementing its legislation on the workings of the judicial system and its international commitments on human rights.

USA welcomes the OSCE report
The United States welcomes the OSCE report on the results of one-year monitoring of Azerbaijan’s court trials of those responsible for post-election public riots in Baku on October 15-16, 2003, a source from the US embassy in Baku told AssA-Irada.

“We are concerned over numerous judicial abuses documented in the OSCE report and urge the government to follow through on its stated commitment to correct problems outlined in the report.
We also welcome the February 4 statement by the OSCE and the Government of Azerbaijan that they would increase cooperation on judicial and legal reform as a positive step in addressing critical rule of law issues in Azerbaijan.

Activists expect change
“I hope such statements and reports of the international organizations will make the Azerbaijan government to conduct deep reform in the court field. The judiciary system is not independent in the Azerbaijan. We have once again witnessed the unfair trial game over the opposition activists and leaders, who were arrested after the disputed presidential elections of 2003”, said the local human rights activist Saida Gojamanly.

“This is the first detailed report that I have ever read. I highly appreciate the OSCE report, which shows the real portrait of the Azerbaijan’s court system. The international concern will rise, as Azerbaijan does not change its poor human rights record”, says another local activist Murad Sadaddinov.