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 The heads of the Republic of Azerbaijan Foundation of Democracy Development and Human Rights Protection (AFDHR) Murad and Rena Sadaddinov held a roundtable, where the problems of former members of the Special Police Squad (SPS)  were mulled over.  The SPS members, who were imprisoned due to their alleged involvement in the coup attempt of 1995, raised the difficulties that they faced after their release. (15 August 2004)

Since the beginning of 2004, 11 people have died and 12 injured as result of mine explosion on the front line territories of Republic of Azerbaijan, Interfax reported on Friday. “According to statistics made by the Republic of Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA), since September 2001, 36 people have died and 47 injured,” said the ANAMA Press Office. (15 August 2004)

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) rapporteurs on Republic of Azerbaijan Andreas Gross (Switzerland) and Andreas Herkel (Estonia) visited Baku on August 4-9 to monitor Azerbaijan´s compliance with the commitments made to the CE upon its admission. They are also expected to prepare a report upon completion of their visit to be heard by the CE Monitoring Committee in September. (14 August 2004)

The statement released by the State Department says that eviction of the Mosque community and attempts to the keep the leadership under state control are not justifiable according to international human rights law, or the OSCE principles. (14 August 2004)

As the case of researcher Igor Sutyagin makes its way through the appeal process, he needs your help. Sutyagin was sentenced to 15 years of hard labor in April, accused of treason and espionage. (06-AUGUST-04)
 

The stage of forming of circuit electoral commissions for election into the Chamber of Representatives of the National Assembly of Republic of Belarus is over. Only 2,1% of the members of the commissions that are established by local administrations, belong to oppositional parties. The authorities openly ignored oppositional candidates for membership in the commissions. (05-AUG-04)
 

The Republic of Azerbaijan Young Lawyers’ Union (AYLU) is a non-governmental and non-profit youth organization, which includes about 150 law students, masters and young practicing lawyers. AYLU targets to reinforce human rights situation through promotion and research of human rights, and conduction of workshops and seminars on legal awareness for civilians.  AYLU intends to start a human rights school in Baku on 9-20 August. (07 August 2004)

Russian Federation has begun its one month chairmanship of the UN Security Council on August 1st. As chairman of the council, the Russian Federation will give priorities to discussions about situations in Kosovo, Iraq, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, the Middle East and conflicts in Africa, said Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Yuri Fedotov. (06-AUG-04)
 

As the case of Igor Sutyagin (picture) makes its way through the appeal process, he needs your help. On April 7, 2004 the Moscow City Court sentenced Igor Sutyagin, a researcher from the U.S. and Canada Institute in Moscow, to 15 year in hard labor. He is accused in treason and espionage. (06-AUG-04)