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CoE: Freedom Of Expression Encounter Serious Setbacks In Azerbaijan

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  • CoE: Freedom Of Expression Encounter Serious Setbacks In Azerbaijan

    COE: FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION ENCOUNTER SERIOUS SETBACKS IN AZERBAIJAN

    PanARMENIAN.Net
    September 30, 2011 - 16:08 AMT

    PanARMENIAN.Net - Freedom of expression, association and peaceful
    assembly have encountered serious setbacks in Azerbaijan. Urgent
    measures must be taken to uphold these fundamental human rights, the
    Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Thomas Hammarberg,
    said publishing observations on the respect of human rights in
    Azerbaijan, as a follow up to his June 2010 report.

    According to the CoE website, one year after the publication of
    the report, the Commissioner regrets to note that most of the
    recommendations he made as regards these areas have not been
    implemented. In some cases, steps taken by the authorities have
    even run counter to Azerbaijan's human rights obligations. "One of
    my recommendations was to end practices of unjustified or selective
    criminal prosecution of journalists or critical opinion makers.

    However, resort to such methods has apparently not abated. Fabricated
    charges have been used to arrest and silence parliamentary candidates,
    journalists and members of youth groups. Such intimidation is
    inconsistent with the principles of a democratic society founded
    on human rights principles and the rule of law. Measures should be
    taken to release immediately all persons imprisoned because of views
    or opinions expressed."

    The Commissioner is concerned by information indicating that in
    the past months several national and international NGOs have faced
    difficulties in carrying out their activities freely in Azerbaijan. He
    is particularly worried about the recent demolition of a building
    where several human rights organizations were located. "Responsibility
    for this illegal action - which contravened a court order - should
    be established, and the persons affected should at the very least
    obtain adequate compensation for the loss of their property."

    Another source of concern relates to the wave of arrests of activists
    and political opponents in connection with protests held in Baku in
    March and April 2011. "These protests were sometimes dispersed with
    excessive force, and the work of journalists was hindered. Several
    persons were detained on grounds of violating public order. Six
    opposition activists were sentenced on 25 August 2011 for participating
    in 'actions causing disturbance of public order', following trials
    whose conformity with human rights standards has been called into
    question."

    The Commissioner therefore urges the Azerbaijani authorities to fully
    respect the right to freedom of peaceful assembly, in accordance
    with the case-law of the European Court of Human Rights. "Freedom
    of expression, association and peaceful assembly are indispensable
    principles of a democratic society. Effective measures must be taken
    by the Azerbaijani authorities to uphold them."

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