Azernews.Az

A co-rapporteur of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) said Monday he would raise the "political prisoners" issue during his ongoing visit to Baku.
"I would like to discuss the issue with the country's political leadership. Everything depends on how these talks will proceed," co-rapporteur Andres Herkel told the press when asked about possible appointment of a special rapporteur on "political prisoners" in Azerbaijan.
As for raising the issue at the Council of Europe, Herkel said it was premature to say anything specific in this respect. "If the talks fail, the issue may be put on the CE agenda. Now we need some time to make an evaluation."
Herkel and his counterpart Evguenia Jivkova are in Baku to become familiar with the pre-election climate and look into Azerbaijan's compliance with its commitments to the CE. A report will be prepared in conclusion of the visit based on the findings.
Jivkova said she was visiting Azerbaijan for the first time since her recent appointment. "I would like to have a more in-depth understanding of the situation in the country. I will closely follow the [presidential] elections due in late 2008 and pre-election preparations."

New body to probe torture
A taskforce comprising local rights champions and CE experts will be set up in Azerbaijan to scrutinize instances of torture. Agreement to that end was reached at a meeting of local rights defenders and PACE co-rapporteur Herkel in Baku on Monday.
Rights defender Saida Gojàmanly who attended the meeting said the goal of establishing the taskforce was to achieve solution of outstanding problems in this area.
Four persons died of torture in Azerbaijan in 2007, including three cases in the army and one in the Interior Ministry pre-trial detention. A total of 63 people were subjected to torture last year, the local Committee Against Torture said.