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PACE alarmed on the existence of prisoners of conscience in Azerbaijan
21:24, 12 December, 2012
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 12, ARMENPRESS: The Monitoring Committee of the
Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) today encouraged the
authorities of Azerbaijan `to step up their efforts to implement the
legislation in the areas crucial for the proper functioning of
democratic institutions' and, against this background, said the
monitoring of the country's obligations and commitments should
continue.
As reports Armenpress referring to the official web site of PACE, the
adopted text was based on the report by Pedro Agramunt and Joseph
Debono Grech. In their report European delegates underlines that since
its accession Azerbaijan has made progress with regard to the
establishment of the legislative framework in some areas crucial for
the functioning of democratic institutions but, regrettably,
`restrictive application or violations of some laws are resulting in
growing concern with regard to the rule of law and respect for human
rights'. The lack of independence of the judiciary is a concern too,
`where the executive branch, in some particular cases, continues to
exert influence on it'.
Concerning the functioning of pluralist democracy, some well-known
Azerbaijani opposition parties are not represented in parliament, the
ruling party is the only one which is eligible to establish a
political group and `regrettably, there is no political dialogue' with
the opposition parties outside parliament.
The situation with regard to basic freedoms, including freedom of
expression, freedom of assembly and freedom of association `is
preoccupying'. The Committee expressed its alarm by reports by human
rights defenders and domestic and international NGOs about the alleged
use of so-called fabricated charges against activists and journalists.
`The combination of the restrictive implementation of freedoms with
unfair trials and the undue influence of the executive, results in the
systemic detention of people who may be considered prisoners of
conscience', the adopted text underlines.
Recently adopted amendments to the Criminal Code and the
Administrative Code, which have increased penalties for the organizers
of, and participants in, `unauthorized' gatherings, also raise
concern, as do alleged cases of torture and other forms of
ill-treatment at police stations, during the investigation period and
in penal institutions, as well as the impunity of perpetrators. The
Assembly will vote on the draft resolution on the honoring of
obligations and commitments to Azerbaijan during its next plenary
session in Strasbourg (21-25 January 2013).
From: A. Papazian
21:24, 12 December, 2012
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 12, ARMENPRESS: The Monitoring Committee of the
Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) today encouraged the
authorities of Azerbaijan `to step up their efforts to implement the
legislation in the areas crucial for the proper functioning of
democratic institutions' and, against this background, said the
monitoring of the country's obligations and commitments should
continue.
As reports Armenpress referring to the official web site of PACE, the
adopted text was based on the report by Pedro Agramunt and Joseph
Debono Grech. In their report European delegates underlines that since
its accession Azerbaijan has made progress with regard to the
establishment of the legislative framework in some areas crucial for
the functioning of democratic institutions but, regrettably,
`restrictive application or violations of some laws are resulting in
growing concern with regard to the rule of law and respect for human
rights'. The lack of independence of the judiciary is a concern too,
`where the executive branch, in some particular cases, continues to
exert influence on it'.
Concerning the functioning of pluralist democracy, some well-known
Azerbaijani opposition parties are not represented in parliament, the
ruling party is the only one which is eligible to establish a
political group and `regrettably, there is no political dialogue' with
the opposition parties outside parliament.
The situation with regard to basic freedoms, including freedom of
expression, freedom of assembly and freedom of association `is
preoccupying'. The Committee expressed its alarm by reports by human
rights defenders and domestic and international NGOs about the alleged
use of so-called fabricated charges against activists and journalists.
`The combination of the restrictive implementation of freedoms with
unfair trials and the undue influence of the executive, results in the
systemic detention of people who may be considered prisoners of
conscience', the adopted text underlines.
Recently adopted amendments to the Criminal Code and the
Administrative Code, which have increased penalties for the organizers
of, and participants in, `unauthorized' gatherings, also raise
concern, as do alleged cases of torture and other forms of
ill-treatment at police stations, during the investigation period and
in penal institutions, as well as the impunity of perpetrators. The
Assembly will vote on the draft resolution on the honoring of
obligations and commitments to Azerbaijan during its next plenary
session in Strasbourg (21-25 January 2013).
From: A. Papazian