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COUNCIL OF EUROPE, OSCE AND EU CONCERNED AT FURTHER RESTRICTIONS TO FREE EXPRESSION IN AZERBAIJAN
Mediamax, Armenia
June 6 2013
Yerevan, June 6. /Mediamax/. Council of Europe, OSCE and EU concerned
at further restrictions to free expression in Azerbaijan.
The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Nils Muiznieks,
the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Dunja Mijatovic,
EU High Representative Catherine Ashton and Commissioner Stefan Fule
expressed serious concern today at the promulgation by the Azerbaijani
president Ilham Aliyev of amendments extending the application of
criminal defamation provisions to online expression on 4 June 2013.
Muiznieks and Mijatovic, both of whom had explicitly called on the
President not to sign these amendments into law following their
adoption by Parliament on 14 May 2013, regretted this step, which
clearly contradicts Azerbaijan's commitments and obligations relating
to the decriminalization of defamation and freedom of expression
in general.
The representatives of European structures "expressed concern that
the new changes will further erode the already limited space for free
expression in the country".
Mediamax, Armenia
June 6 2013
Yerevan, June 6. /Mediamax/. Council of Europe, OSCE and EU concerned
at further restrictions to free expression in Azerbaijan.
The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Nils Muiznieks,
the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Dunja Mijatovic,
EU High Representative Catherine Ashton and Commissioner Stefan Fule
expressed serious concern today at the promulgation by the Azerbaijani
president Ilham Aliyev of amendments extending the application of
criminal defamation provisions to online expression on 4 June 2013.
Muiznieks and Mijatovic, both of whom had explicitly called on the
President not to sign these amendments into law following their
adoption by Parliament on 14 May 2013, regretted this step, which
clearly contradicts Azerbaijan's commitments and obligations relating
to the decriminalization of defamation and freedom of expression
in general.
The representatives of European structures "expressed concern that
the new changes will further erode the already limited space for free
expression in the country".