The commitments, the Azerbaijani authority taken in front of the international community are not fulfilled, thinks the human rights activists and a number of politicians. The joint letter of pro-democratic part of Azerbaijan reminds the PACE about numerous violations during the elections, as well as post-election violence and disrespect to human rights. Now the main question is if the PACE will confirm the mandates of the new deputies or it will follow the pro-democratic supportive position (18-DEC-2005).
On the 13 of December, the leaders of opposition parties, human rights activists and heads of some NGOs sent joint letter to the leadership of the Council of Europe (CE), PACE reporters, heads of committees, delegations and political groups of PACE, and PACE members with the request to pay special attention to the problems of the Parliamentary elections conducted November 6, 2005 in Azerbaijan.
Statements from the Letter-Appeal
The letter reminds about the international commitments of Azerbaijan authority to respect human rights and freedoms in the country and contains the statements about serious violations during the parliamentary elections, partial standpoint of Public Television, which violated the rules and law and finally the violence of police toward the peaceful demonstrators.
The authors of the letter noted that to PACE the importance of confirmation of mandates issue. “If another loyal attitude towards this question is demonstrated, it will definitely encourage our authorities to future gross violations of human rights and ignorance of democracy in Azerbaijan. The Council of Europe must show its principality and make it clear to the authorities of Azerbaijan that the violations of basic principles of the Council of Europe will not pass trackless as it was in other issues, for example with the question of political prisoners which has not yet been resolved”.
It was noted that the “people of Azerbaijan are starting to lose their final hope on the Western support and no one will ever be able to persuade them that there are no double standards in policy towards countries, especially countries rich with oil. If the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe will consider necessary to sit in one room with the so-called parliamentarians as Samed Seidov and Asim Mollazade, and will also confirm the mandate of the Azeri delegation, we will lose all the tiny bits of democracy that are already melting in the hearts of Azerbaijanis. Losing faith in democratic values will bring radicalization of the society and the path of the people will direct towards antidemocratic forces. And in the near future we will be the witnesses of authoritative corrupt government; member of the Council of Europe, which will serve as a strong example to the leaders of neighboring countries, that are on the stage of choosing their paths of development” concluded the letter.
Session of PACE Monitoring Committee 
On 15 December 2005 the results of parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan and post-election situation were discussed at session of PACE Monitoring Committee in Paris. Samed Seidov (on the right), head of Azerbaijani delegation in PACE, said there were both “positive and negative assessments.” Seidov and another Azerbaijani representative Asim Mollazade also made a speech during discussions. Seidov said these were simply discussions and no decisions on mandate of Azerbaijani parliamentary delegation had been taken. The report prepared by reporters of Monitoring Committee was not presented at the session. Seidov added that another reporter Andreas Gross was absent at the session. Asked if Herkel had made any recommendations, Seidov answered that he has made “a standard” speech. During discussions it has been decided to continue discussion of elections in Azerbaijan at the next session of the Committee in January 2006.
