Hammarberg is concerned about pressure on civil society activists in Azerbaijan

The Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe Thomas Hammarberg has expressed his concern over the human rights situation in Azerbaijan. In his report on the human rights situation in Azerbaijan during the past year, the Commissioner has noted with regret that most of his earlier recommendations were neglected. The authorities of the country, in their turn, find the report biased.

"The freedoms of expression, association, and peaceful assembly are facing serious challenges in Azerbaijan. Urgent measures to support these basic human rights are a must," said Thomas Hammarberg in his report, posted today on the Commissioner's page on the CoE's website, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports.

The new report of Mr Hammarberg notes that in some cases the steps taken by the authorities even contradicted the Azerbaijan's obligations on human rights.

"One of my recommendations was to put an end to unjustified or selective prosecutions of journalists and civil society activists. However, such actions continue," said Thomas Hammarberg.

He is also concerned that in recent months several local and international NGOs have encountered difficulties in carrying out their activities in Azerbaijan.

The Commissioner has expressed particular concern over the recent demolition of the building of the Institute of Peace and Democracy (IPD), which had housed also several other human rights organizations.

Another area of the Commissioner's concern is the wave of arrests of activists and political opponents in the context of protests in Baku in March and April 2011.

"These protests were dispersed with application of inadequate force; and the work of journalists was made difficult. Several persons were detained for violating public order. Six opposition activists were convicted on August 25 under this charge. However, the compliance of these judgments with human rights standards raises questions," said Hammarberg.

He also condemned the arrests of active users of social networks - young activists Djabbar Savalan (sentenced to 2.5 years in prison on charges of illegal possession of drugs) and Bakhtiyar Gadjiev (sentenced to two years in prison on charges of evading military service) and the human rights defender Vidadi Iskenderov (sentenced to three years in prison under the articles of forcing to vote against one's will or obstruction to voting, interference in the work of election commissions, and beating).

Mr Hammarberg called for release of all the above prisoners.

In his turn, Evda Abramov, the deputy head of the Committee of the National Assembly of Azerbaijan for Human Rights, treats the report as biased.

According to his version, it is wrong to talk about the abuse of democracy and human rights in Azerbaijan at that time, when "the republic with a population of 9 million operating 55 political parties and 625 newspapers."

He rejected the presence in Azerbaijan of any persons arrested for political reasons. As for Mr Hammarberg's call for immediate release of youth activists, the above MP said, "No state and no international organization may dictate terms to another sovereign state."