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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."
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."