Azerbaijan sets up "Joint Human Rights Group"

Azerbaijan has established a working group consisting of representatives of all branches of power and civil society, which, in particular, will deal with problems, including those concerning persons recognized by human rights defenders as political prisoners.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the Council of Europe (CE) and the Azerbaijani authorities have agreed to re-establish a working group to address the problem of release of prisoners, recognized by the local human rights defenders as political prisoners.

On October 22, the inaugural session of the group was held at the Parliament building. The first session has addressed organizational matters and formed the group. This was reported by Arzu Abdullaeva, the co-Chair of the Helsinki Citizens Assembly and the head of its National Committee, who took part in the event.

Arzu Abdullaeva has expressed her satisfaction with the outcome of the meeting. She has emphasized that civil society representatives expect concrete results on the problem of release of political prisoners.

Saida Godjamanly, the head of the Bureau of Human Rights and Rule of Law, has reported that, according to the Monitoring Group of Human Rights Organizations of Azerbaijan (MGHROA), at present, there are 37 political prisoners in Azerbaijan.

In Azerbaijan, there are no political prisoners, but there are people brought to responsibility for specific criminal acts, stated Fuad Aleskerov, the head of the department for cooperation with the law enforcement agencies of the Presidential Administration.