PACE MPs condemn repressions against oppositionists in Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan neglects its obligations to the Council of Europe (CoE), political persecutions and imprisonments are widespread in the country. This is said in the statement signed by 21 PACE MPs.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that after the corruption scandal, a new co-rapporteur of the PACE Monitoring Committee for Azerbaijan was appointed. On April 26, most of the MPs of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) supported the resolution on the report of the investigative group, which had concluded that European politicians took bribes and lobbied Azerbaijan's interests. In Baku, the report was treated as biased.

The website of the CoE says that Azerbaijan is "one of the most repressive countries in Europe," while the extension of the power of President Ilham Aliev "took place in the atmosphere of intimidation." Also, Azerbaijan "violates democratic standards."

One example of politically motivated arrests is the persecution of Mekhman Guseinov, known for his anti-corruption investigative journalism. Another example is the case of the politician Ilgar Mamedov.

The PACE's statement can be regarded as an increased attention to the situation with human rights in Azerbaijan, Emin Guseinov, an Azerbaijani rights defender, believes.

According to his version, Azerbaijan, along with Russia and Turkey, is also appeared among the countries where there are most obstacles for the free activities of NGOs.