CE calls on Azeri authorities to acquit nine activists

Azerbaijani authorities should lift convictions from nine activists, including the journalist, Khadidja Ismayilova, and fully acquit them, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe (CE) has stated.

On June 10, the above Committee adopted two resolutions on Azerbaijan concerning the execution of the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) on cases of civil society activists. One of the resolutions concerns the case of the investigative journalist, Khadidja Ismayilova, on the violation of her rights to privacy and the freedom of expression. Despite the payment of compensation to her, Azerbaijani authorities failed to ensure an efficient inquiry into the crimes committed against Ismayilova, the CE's press service said in its statement received by the "Caucasian Knot".

The CE's Committee of Ministers has called on the authorities to immediately resume and ensure an efficient inquiry into the criminal offenses committed against Ismayilova.

The second resolution concerns the "Anar Mamedli's group". The case contains decisions of the ECtHR on the complaints of nine activists and journalists who were arrested in 2013-2016, namely, Anar Mamedli, Intigam Aliev, Khadidja Ismayilova, Leyla Yunus and Arif Yunus, Bairam Mamedov, Giyas Ibragimov, Mamed Azizov and Shakhin Novruzlu.

Compensation was paid to the applicants, but they failed to receive full rehabilitation, and their criminal records were not expunged, the Committee of Ministers has pointed out, calling on the Azerbaijani authorities to cancel the guilty verdicts against these persons.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on June 11, 2022 at 02:03 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.