AZERBAIJAN CONTINUES TO PREVENT THE RAPPORTEUR OF PACE COMMITTEE ON LEGAL AFFAIRS AND HUMAN RIGHTS FROM ENTERING THE COUNTRY
http://www.yerkirmedia.am/?act=news&lan=en&id=8119
19:25 . 27/06
Since 2009, Azerbaijani authorities have been preventing the rapporteur
of the PACE Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights on political
prisoners in Azerbaijan Christopher Strasser from entering the
country. Strasser himself said this.
At its session on June 26, the PACE Committee on Legal Affairs and
Human Rights approved Christopher Strasser's report, according to
which presently there are 89 prisoners of war in Azerbaijan. Strasser
expressed hope that now after the Committee's approval of the report,
the Azerbaijani authorities will comply with the responsibilities
assumed before PACE in the direction of human rights and fundamental
freedoms. With the report the rapporteur intended to bring the
seriousness of human rights situation in Azerbaijan to the attention
of the Assembly, and if the Azerbaijani authorities wish to record
political progress, according to Strasser, they must be ready for
cooperation.
The official Baku granted amnesty to 66 prisoners of war a few days
before the PACE report perhaps in order to ease the pressures of the
international community and international human rights organizations.
"I think, the noise raised by local political parties, the opposition,
individual MPs and the press also became a reason for our release.
During this time they kept demanding our release," the deputy chairman
of Musavat Party Arif Hajil has said.
The prisoners were released by the amnesty decree signed by
President Ilham Aliyev. 9 activists arrested in the anti-government
demonstrations in the spring of 2011 were among those released. More
than 1000 people were reported in advance to have participated in
that unauthorized anti-government demonstration, and the number of
the arrested reached 200.
"While I was in prison, I never stopped my political activity and
starting from tomorrow I will continue to work already in freedom, I
will continue the fight for the establishment of democratic reforms,"
Musavat's deputy chairman said.
In May of the current year, Azerbaijani authorities again gave way
to the pressures of the West and released several journalists and
bloggers and authorized opposition rallies. On those days Eurovision
Song Contest was being held in Baku and the international community
was particularly following Baku's behaviour, especially when billions
of dollars were being spent to prepare for the international song
contest and to show off in front of the world.
http://www.yerkirmedia.am/?act=news&lan=en&id=8119
19:25 . 27/06
Since 2009, Azerbaijani authorities have been preventing the rapporteur
of the PACE Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights on political
prisoners in Azerbaijan Christopher Strasser from entering the
country. Strasser himself said this.
At its session on June 26, the PACE Committee on Legal Affairs and
Human Rights approved Christopher Strasser's report, according to
which presently there are 89 prisoners of war in Azerbaijan. Strasser
expressed hope that now after the Committee's approval of the report,
the Azerbaijani authorities will comply with the responsibilities
assumed before PACE in the direction of human rights and fundamental
freedoms. With the report the rapporteur intended to bring the
seriousness of human rights situation in Azerbaijan to the attention
of the Assembly, and if the Azerbaijani authorities wish to record
political progress, according to Strasser, they must be ready for
cooperation.
The official Baku granted amnesty to 66 prisoners of war a few days
before the PACE report perhaps in order to ease the pressures of the
international community and international human rights organizations.
"I think, the noise raised by local political parties, the opposition,
individual MPs and the press also became a reason for our release.
During this time they kept demanding our release," the deputy chairman
of Musavat Party Arif Hajil has said.
The prisoners were released by the amnesty decree signed by
President Ilham Aliyev. 9 activists arrested in the anti-government
demonstrations in the spring of 2011 were among those released. More
than 1000 people were reported in advance to have participated in
that unauthorized anti-government demonstration, and the number of
the arrested reached 200.
"While I was in prison, I never stopped my political activity and
starting from tomorrow I will continue to work already in freedom, I
will continue the fight for the establishment of democratic reforms,"
Musavat's deputy chairman said.
In May of the current year, Azerbaijani authorities again gave way
to the pressures of the West and released several journalists and
bloggers and authorized opposition rallies. On those days Eurovision
Song Contest was being held in Baku and the international community
was particularly following Baku's behaviour, especially when billions
of dollars were being spent to prepare for the international song
contest and to show off in front of the world.