Four human rights defenders of Azerbaijan took part in fall session of PACE. Having met with a number of representatives from different PACE representatives, the human rights defenders stressed the poor human rights records, especially in the area of the freedom of speech and freedom of assembly. (11-OCT-07)

Written by Shahla Ismailova/ HRH Azerbaijan on the basis of conference materials; photos by APA and Saadat Benanyarly

The members of Monitoring Group of Human Rights Organizations – Novella Jafaroglu, Saadat Benanyarly, Saida Gojamanly and Arzu Abdullayeva, who attended the PACE session, organized the joint press conference on the results of Strasbourg visit.

According to the human rights defenders, the purpose of the visit was to prepare for the winter session of PACE, to be held in January 2008, by informing the PACE representatives of the human rights environment in Azerbaijan.

Strasburg-hr-defenders-2Saida Gojamanly said “the representatives of the Council of Europe are well aware of the situation in Azerbaijan and are seriously concerned. The situation in Azerbaijan will be among the issues on the agenda of winter session. It is well understood in the Council of Europe that Azerbaijan had failed to meet the commitments it undertook before the accession to the Council of Europe in 2001”

Among the topics of discussions and reporting there was the negative situation in the area of freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, political prisoners and amendments to the Election Code.

The human rights defender, Arzu Abdullayeva shared with her feelings: “We were astonished to see how well aware the PACE deputies are and there was not need to give broad information on the situation. We observed big concern from their side, as they are well aware that any person’s freedom is in danger in Azerbaijan”

The human rights defenders also noted that the Council of Europe would continue to keep a close critical eye on the situation in Azerbaijan, as the date of presidential elections is getting closer and the people of Azerbaijan must enjoy fundamental human rights and freedoms.