The mission considered that there is progress to conduct good presidential elections in Azerbaijan. The statement authors stated that these advancements are related to the consideration of several recommendations given by CE Venetian Commission. However, not all of the recommendations have been fulfilled, according to the statement authors.
Meeting with human rights defenders
Two days before this press conference Freedom of Speech Defense Fund working group, members of the Human Rights Defenders Monitoring Committee and Advising Council of “For Free and Fair Elections” met with PACE Monitoring Committee co-rapporteur on Azerbaijan Andreas Herkel.
Freedom of Speech Defense Fund Chairperson Arzu Abdullayeva (right) told that elections, problems regarding political prisoners and especially imprisoned journalists were discussed during the meeting. Abdullayeva gave information about provocation against satiric/journalist Sakit Zahidov, which happened a while ago, and presented a complaint from Rena Zahidova, Sakit Zahidov’s wife, to Andreas Herkel. Information about Eynulla Fatullayev and Ganimat Zahid and their situation was brought to his attention.
Herkel stated that they added the imprisonment of several journalists as a negative case to the document.
 Pre-election Evaluation Mission conducted a press conference in the office of Council of Europe in the Republic of Azerbaijan. Head of the Mission Andreas Herkel (right) and mission members revealed a statement about the results of their visit to Republic of Azerbaijan. &redirect_uri=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2F){kind=link}