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EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT URGES AZERBAIJANI AUTHORITIES TO RELEASE ILGAR MAMMADOV
http://armenpress.am/eng/news/722590/european-parliament-urges-azerbaijani-authorities-to-release-ilgar-mammadov.html
11:44, 14 June, 2013
YEREVAN, JUNE 14, ARMENPRESS. The European Parliament publicized a
resolution titled "Azerbaijan: Case of Ilgar Mammadov" at the sitting
held on 13 June, 2013, where it strictly criticizes the arrest of
the Director of Political Studies School Ilgar Mammadov and urges
to set him free immediately. "Armenpress" introduces the text of the
resolution in its entirety:
"The European Parliament, - having regard to its previous resolutions
on the situation in Azerbaijan, in particular those concerning human
rights and the rule of law,
- having regard to the joint statement of 9 February 2013 by
Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for
Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton and Commissioner
Štefan Fule on the arrests of Tofiq Yaqublu, newspaper columnist and
deputy chair of the Musavat oppositionparty, and Ilgar Mammadov, leader
and presidential candidate of the Republican Alternative (REAL) party,
- having regard to the joint statement of 7 June 2013 by the respective
spokespersons of Catherine Ashton and Commissioner Fule on curbs on
freedom of expression in Azerbaijan,
- having regard to the statement of 3 May 2013 by the Secretary General
of the Council of Europe, Thorbjørn Jagland, concerning new charges
brought against Mr Mammadov,
- having regard to the statement of 18 March 2013 by the Congress
of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, -
having regard to the joint statement issued by 52 Azerbaijani civil
society organisations requesting the release of Mr Mammadov and Mr
Yaqublu, - having regard to the established relationship between the
EU and Azerbaijan, which took effect in 1999, as represented by the
implementation of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) Action Plan,
the creation of the Eastern Partnership (EaP), the negotiations on
an EU Azerbaijan association agreement and Azerbaijan's participation
in the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly,
- having regard to the ongoing negotiations between the EU and
Azerbaijan on an association agreement,
- having regard to its resolution of 11 December 2012 on a Digital
Freedom Strategy in EU Foreign Policy ,
- having regard to the 2012 ENP country progress report on Azerbaijan,
dated 20 March 2013,
- having regard to Rules 122(5) and 110(4) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas Mr Mammadov, leader of the opposition REAL movement and
director of the Council of Europe's Baku School of Political Studies,
and Mr Yaqublu, deputy chair of the Musavat opposition party, were
arrested by Azerbaijani authorities on 4 February 2013 and have been
unlawfully detained since then; whereas Mr Mammadov is accused of
inciting riots in the town of Ismaili after he visited the town;
B. whereas his initial pre-trial detention has been extended twice in
an apparent attempt to keep him behind bars pending the forthcoming
elections; whereas according to recent reports Ilgar Mammadov has
been placed in a punishment cell, raising concerns that he is being
singled out;
C. whereas the overall human rights situation in Azerbaijan has
deteriorated continuously over the last few years despite the adoption
of the ENP Action Plan, with growing pressure on, and intimidation of,
NGOs and independent media, engendering a widespread sense of fear
among opposition forces, human rights defenders and youth and social
network activists and leading to self-censorship among journalists;
D. whereas before his arrest Mr Mammadov had been confirmed as the
REAL opposition party's candidate for the Azerbaijani presidential
elections scheduled for October 2013;
E. whereas human rights defenders and civil society representatives
consider Mr Mammadov's arrest to be illegal and politically motivated,
and an attempt to intimidate the opposition;
F. whereas the Commission, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council
of Europe and Member State governments have expressed grave concern
about this case;
G. whereas the EU has expressed its grave concerns about the use of
selective justice for political purposes;
H. whereas the Council of Europe representative in Baku was not
admitted to the initial court hearing in February 2013 and whereas,
in addition, a group of Council of Europe ambassadors who recently
visited Azerbaijan were not allowed to see Mr Mammadov;
I. whereas freedom of the press and media, both online and offline,
is a crucial aspect of a democratic and open society, as well as
being fundamental in safeguarding human rights and the rule of law;
J. whereas journalists, bloggers, activists and other independent
thinkers continue to experience serious limitations on their freedom
of expression in Azerbaijan, facing prosecution on bogus charges,
harassment, intimidation and physical attacks;
K. whereas demonstrations have effectively been banned in central
Baku since 2006, and whereas harsh new fines and longer periods of
administrative detention for those who organise or participate in
unauthorised public gatherings were recently introduced;
L. whereas Azerbaijani authorities recently requested the downgrading
of the mission of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in
Europe (OSCE) in Baku to the status of a 'project coordination office',
which is seen as an attempt to limit the OSCE's anticipated criticism
of the presidential elections scheduled for October 2013;
M. whereas, contrary to the commitments made, Azerbaijan's parliament,
the Milli Mejlis, has adopted amendments to the Criminal Code that
provide for up to three years' imprisonment for defamation posted
online, an act that constitutes a further hindrance to the necessary
conditions for independent and non-biased media in Azerbaijan;
N. whereas Azerbaijan is currently engaged in consultations with the
Council of Europe's Venice Commission on the reform of the country's
defamation legislation, which must be carried out in order to execute
two judgments of the European Court of Human Rights against Azerbaijan;
whereas, however, the Azerbaijani parliament has adopted new amendments
aimed at facilitating the application of defamation provisions to
online expression;
O. whereas Azerbaijan is a member of the Council of Europe and will
take over its rotating chairmanship in 2014, as well as being a party
to the European Convention on Human Rights;
P. whereas Azerbaijan is actively participating in the ENP and the EaP,
is engaged in the negotiations on an association agreement and the
furthering of cooperation initiatives grounded in the EaP framework,
is a founding member of Euronest and is committed to respecting
democracy, human rights and the rule of law, which are core values
of these initiatives;
Q. whereas Azerbaijan has adopted new laws widening the definition
of criminal libel, tightening regulations governing the funding of
non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and introducing much severer
penalties for offences relating to public assemblies;
R. whereas Azerbaijan has taken up a non-permanent seat in the United
Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the 2012-2013 period, and has
committed itself to upholding the values enshrined in the Charter of
the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights;
S. whereas 2013 is an important election year for Azerbaijan,
which has committed itself to improving the general environment for
democratic elections;
1. Stresses that full respect for human rights, fundamental freedoms
and the rule of law is at the heart of the framework for cooperation
within the EaP, and of the commitments made by Azerbaijan within the
Council of Europe and the OSCE;
2. Strongly condemns the detention of Mr Mammadov, calls for his
immediate and unconditional release and an end to his prosecution,
and urges the Azerbaijani authorities to investigate the charges
against him in a speedy, fair, transparent and independent manner;
3. Calls for the EU to assist and further support the Republic of
Azerbaijan in its efforts to consolidate democracy and the rule of
law and to reform the judiciary and law enforcement systems, with a
special focus on protecting human rights;
4. Expresses serious concern over reports by human rights defenders
and domestic and international NGOs about the alleged use of fabricated
charges against politicians, activists and journalists;
5. Condemns any intimidation, arrest, detention or prosecution
of opposition party leaders or members, activists, journalists or
bloggers solely because they have expressed their views and exercised
their fundamental rights and freedoms in accordance with international
standards;
6. Calls on the Azerbaijani authorities unequivocally to respect
freedom of the press and media, both online and offline, and to secure
freedom of expression;
7. Calls on the Azerbaijani authorities to reform the country's
defamation legislation so that defamation is dealt with by means of
proportionate fines rather than imprisonment;
8. Calls on the Azerbaijani authorities fully to respect the freedom
of assembly of the Azerbaijani population;
9. Supports the ongoing negotiations on an EU-Azerbaijan association
agreement and reaffirms its position that such an agreement must
include clauses and benchmarks relating to the protection and promotion
of human rights, especially with regard to freedom of the media,
freedom of expression, freedom of association and freedom of assembly,
which reflect the principles and rights enshrined in the Azerbaijani
constitution and the commitments made by Azerbaijan within the Council
of Europe and the OSCE;
10. Calls on the Azerbaijani authorities to bring the legislation
on elections, freedom of assembly, freedom of association and media
freedom into line with international standards and to ensure its
full implementation;
11. Calls on the European External Action Service (EEAS) strictly
to apply the 'more for more' principle, with a specific focus on
inclusive, free and fair elections, the independence of the judiciary,
democratic reforms and fundamental rights and freedoms, and clearly
to lay down the consequences of lagging behind in relation to reforms;
12. Urges the Azerbaijani authorities to step up their efforts
to reform all aspects of the judicial system: prosecution, trial,
sentencing, detention and appeals;
13. Calls on Commission President José Manuel Barroso to speak out
on the EU's human rights concerns vis-a-vis Azerbaijan, as outlined
in the last ENP progress report, during President Ilham Aliyev's
planned visit to Brussels;
14. Supports the work of the EEAS and calls on the EU Delegation
in Baku to continue to pay close attention to human rights concerns
during the forthcoming election cycle, showing support for human rights
defenders by attending events organised by civil society and speaking
out on their behalf, closely monitoring court trials and supporting
media freedom, inter alia by demanding the viable transmission of
independent radio and television channels during the election campaign;
15. Urges the Azerbaijani authorities to grant the Azerbaijan Human
Rights House unconditional authorisation to reopen, and to register
the Election Monitoring and Democracy Studies Centre and the Human
Rights Club without further delays or administrative burdens;
16. Calls on the Azerbaijani authorities to comply with all rulings
of the European Court of Human Rights concerning Azerbaijan;
17. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the European
External Action Service, the European Council, the Commission, the
Governments and Parliament of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Council
of Europe, the OSCE and the UN Human Rights Council.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
http://armenpress.am/eng/news/722590/european-parliament-urges-azerbaijani-authorities-to-release-ilgar-mammadov.html
11:44, 14 June, 2013
YEREVAN, JUNE 14, ARMENPRESS. The European Parliament publicized a
resolution titled "Azerbaijan: Case of Ilgar Mammadov" at the sitting
held on 13 June, 2013, where it strictly criticizes the arrest of
the Director of Political Studies School Ilgar Mammadov and urges
to set him free immediately. "Armenpress" introduces the text of the
resolution in its entirety:
"The European Parliament, - having regard to its previous resolutions
on the situation in Azerbaijan, in particular those concerning human
rights and the rule of law,
- having regard to the joint statement of 9 February 2013 by
Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for
Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton and Commissioner
Štefan Fule on the arrests of Tofiq Yaqublu, newspaper columnist and
deputy chair of the Musavat oppositionparty, and Ilgar Mammadov, leader
and presidential candidate of the Republican Alternative (REAL) party,
- having regard to the joint statement of 7 June 2013 by the respective
spokespersons of Catherine Ashton and Commissioner Fule on curbs on
freedom of expression in Azerbaijan,
- having regard to the statement of 3 May 2013 by the Secretary General
of the Council of Europe, Thorbjørn Jagland, concerning new charges
brought against Mr Mammadov,
- having regard to the statement of 18 March 2013 by the Congress
of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, -
having regard to the joint statement issued by 52 Azerbaijani civil
society organisations requesting the release of Mr Mammadov and Mr
Yaqublu, - having regard to the established relationship between the
EU and Azerbaijan, which took effect in 1999, as represented by the
implementation of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) Action Plan,
the creation of the Eastern Partnership (EaP), the negotiations on
an EU Azerbaijan association agreement and Azerbaijan's participation
in the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly,
- having regard to the ongoing negotiations between the EU and
Azerbaijan on an association agreement,
- having regard to its resolution of 11 December 2012 on a Digital
Freedom Strategy in EU Foreign Policy ,
- having regard to the 2012 ENP country progress report on Azerbaijan,
dated 20 March 2013,
- having regard to Rules 122(5) and 110(4) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas Mr Mammadov, leader of the opposition REAL movement and
director of the Council of Europe's Baku School of Political Studies,
and Mr Yaqublu, deputy chair of the Musavat opposition party, were
arrested by Azerbaijani authorities on 4 February 2013 and have been
unlawfully detained since then; whereas Mr Mammadov is accused of
inciting riots in the town of Ismaili after he visited the town;
B. whereas his initial pre-trial detention has been extended twice in
an apparent attempt to keep him behind bars pending the forthcoming
elections; whereas according to recent reports Ilgar Mammadov has
been placed in a punishment cell, raising concerns that he is being
singled out;
C. whereas the overall human rights situation in Azerbaijan has
deteriorated continuously over the last few years despite the adoption
of the ENP Action Plan, with growing pressure on, and intimidation of,
NGOs and independent media, engendering a widespread sense of fear
among opposition forces, human rights defenders and youth and social
network activists and leading to self-censorship among journalists;
D. whereas before his arrest Mr Mammadov had been confirmed as the
REAL opposition party's candidate for the Azerbaijani presidential
elections scheduled for October 2013;
E. whereas human rights defenders and civil society representatives
consider Mr Mammadov's arrest to be illegal and politically motivated,
and an attempt to intimidate the opposition;
F. whereas the Commission, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council
of Europe and Member State governments have expressed grave concern
about this case;
G. whereas the EU has expressed its grave concerns about the use of
selective justice for political purposes;
H. whereas the Council of Europe representative in Baku was not
admitted to the initial court hearing in February 2013 and whereas,
in addition, a group of Council of Europe ambassadors who recently
visited Azerbaijan were not allowed to see Mr Mammadov;
I. whereas freedom of the press and media, both online and offline,
is a crucial aspect of a democratic and open society, as well as
being fundamental in safeguarding human rights and the rule of law;
J. whereas journalists, bloggers, activists and other independent
thinkers continue to experience serious limitations on their freedom
of expression in Azerbaijan, facing prosecution on bogus charges,
harassment, intimidation and physical attacks;
K. whereas demonstrations have effectively been banned in central
Baku since 2006, and whereas harsh new fines and longer periods of
administrative detention for those who organise or participate in
unauthorised public gatherings were recently introduced;
L. whereas Azerbaijani authorities recently requested the downgrading
of the mission of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in
Europe (OSCE) in Baku to the status of a 'project coordination office',
which is seen as an attempt to limit the OSCE's anticipated criticism
of the presidential elections scheduled for October 2013;
M. whereas, contrary to the commitments made, Azerbaijan's parliament,
the Milli Mejlis, has adopted amendments to the Criminal Code that
provide for up to three years' imprisonment for defamation posted
online, an act that constitutes a further hindrance to the necessary
conditions for independent and non-biased media in Azerbaijan;
N. whereas Azerbaijan is currently engaged in consultations with the
Council of Europe's Venice Commission on the reform of the country's
defamation legislation, which must be carried out in order to execute
two judgments of the European Court of Human Rights against Azerbaijan;
whereas, however, the Azerbaijani parliament has adopted new amendments
aimed at facilitating the application of defamation provisions to
online expression;
O. whereas Azerbaijan is a member of the Council of Europe and will
take over its rotating chairmanship in 2014, as well as being a party
to the European Convention on Human Rights;
P. whereas Azerbaijan is actively participating in the ENP and the EaP,
is engaged in the negotiations on an association agreement and the
furthering of cooperation initiatives grounded in the EaP framework,
is a founding member of Euronest and is committed to respecting
democracy, human rights and the rule of law, which are core values
of these initiatives;
Q. whereas Azerbaijan has adopted new laws widening the definition
of criminal libel, tightening regulations governing the funding of
non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and introducing much severer
penalties for offences relating to public assemblies;
R. whereas Azerbaijan has taken up a non-permanent seat in the United
Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the 2012-2013 period, and has
committed itself to upholding the values enshrined in the Charter of
the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights;
S. whereas 2013 is an important election year for Azerbaijan,
which has committed itself to improving the general environment for
democratic elections;
1. Stresses that full respect for human rights, fundamental freedoms
and the rule of law is at the heart of the framework for cooperation
within the EaP, and of the commitments made by Azerbaijan within the
Council of Europe and the OSCE;
2. Strongly condemns the detention of Mr Mammadov, calls for his
immediate and unconditional release and an end to his prosecution,
and urges the Azerbaijani authorities to investigate the charges
against him in a speedy, fair, transparent and independent manner;
3. Calls for the EU to assist and further support the Republic of
Azerbaijan in its efforts to consolidate democracy and the rule of
law and to reform the judiciary and law enforcement systems, with a
special focus on protecting human rights;
4. Expresses serious concern over reports by human rights defenders
and domestic and international NGOs about the alleged use of fabricated
charges against politicians, activists and journalists;
5. Condemns any intimidation, arrest, detention or prosecution
of opposition party leaders or members, activists, journalists or
bloggers solely because they have expressed their views and exercised
their fundamental rights and freedoms in accordance with international
standards;
6. Calls on the Azerbaijani authorities unequivocally to respect
freedom of the press and media, both online and offline, and to secure
freedom of expression;
7. Calls on the Azerbaijani authorities to reform the country's
defamation legislation so that defamation is dealt with by means of
proportionate fines rather than imprisonment;
8. Calls on the Azerbaijani authorities fully to respect the freedom
of assembly of the Azerbaijani population;
9. Supports the ongoing negotiations on an EU-Azerbaijan association
agreement and reaffirms its position that such an agreement must
include clauses and benchmarks relating to the protection and promotion
of human rights, especially with regard to freedom of the media,
freedom of expression, freedom of association and freedom of assembly,
which reflect the principles and rights enshrined in the Azerbaijani
constitution and the commitments made by Azerbaijan within the Council
of Europe and the OSCE;
10. Calls on the Azerbaijani authorities to bring the legislation
on elections, freedom of assembly, freedom of association and media
freedom into line with international standards and to ensure its
full implementation;
11. Calls on the European External Action Service (EEAS) strictly
to apply the 'more for more' principle, with a specific focus on
inclusive, free and fair elections, the independence of the judiciary,
democratic reforms and fundamental rights and freedoms, and clearly
to lay down the consequences of lagging behind in relation to reforms;
12. Urges the Azerbaijani authorities to step up their efforts
to reform all aspects of the judicial system: prosecution, trial,
sentencing, detention and appeals;
13. Calls on Commission President José Manuel Barroso to speak out
on the EU's human rights concerns vis-a-vis Azerbaijan, as outlined
in the last ENP progress report, during President Ilham Aliyev's
planned visit to Brussels;
14. Supports the work of the EEAS and calls on the EU Delegation
in Baku to continue to pay close attention to human rights concerns
during the forthcoming election cycle, showing support for human rights
defenders by attending events organised by civil society and speaking
out on their behalf, closely monitoring court trials and supporting
media freedom, inter alia by demanding the viable transmission of
independent radio and television channels during the election campaign;
15. Urges the Azerbaijani authorities to grant the Azerbaijan Human
Rights House unconditional authorisation to reopen, and to register
the Election Monitoring and Democracy Studies Centre and the Human
Rights Club without further delays or administrative burdens;
16. Calls on the Azerbaijani authorities to comply with all rulings
of the European Court of Human Rights concerning Azerbaijan;
17. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the European
External Action Service, the European Council, the Commission, the
Governments and Parliament of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Council
of Europe, the OSCE and the UN Human Rights Council.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress