PACE criticizes Azeri rights record
Andres Herkel, a co-rapporteur of the Parliamentary Assembly of the
Council of Europe, has issued a critical assessment of the
situation with democracy and human rights in Azerbaijan.
PACE on Thursday adopted a resolution on the activity of democratic institutions in the country based on a report submitted by the co-rapporteurs of the assembly’s Monitoring Committee – Andres Herkel of Estonia and Joseph Debono Grech of Malta.
In his speech, Herkel claimed that freedom of assembly is being restricted in Azerbaijan, saying the opposition is not being allowed to protest.
Grech, for his part, said positive developments were being seen as well, and "suitable conditions should be provided to build on them".
"I think we will be able to raise Azerbaijan to the level we have in mind," he said.
Michael Hancock, a British politician, disagreed with the criticism cited in the report, saying "one cannot claim the absence of a democratic system in Azerbaijan."
Most of the speakers touched on the parliamentary elections to be held in Azerbaijan in November, saying the poll will be a peculiar test for democracy.
The PACE resolution called on the Azerbaijani authorities "to ensure the necessary conditions" for the full compliance of the November parliamentary elections with the European standards. In line with the conclusions of the monitoring co-rapporteurs, it encouraged the authorities to co-operate with the Venice Commission in order to continue with the revision of the Electoral Code and to "generate conditions for a fair electoral campaign" by fully implementing the law on the freedom of assembly and by ensuring the freedom of the media.
In this context, the PACE called on the Azerbaijani authorities "to pass on a clear message, at the highest political level, that electoral fraud will not be tolerated" and urged all political parties to take part in the forthcoming elections. The Assembly stressed that these elections were all the more important given that "it was necessary to reinforce the application of the constitutionally-guaranteed principle of the separation of powers".
Lastly, with regard to the media situation, the Assembly condemned what it called the arrests and harassment of journalists, reiterated its position that defamation should be decriminalised.*
PACE on Thursday adopted a resolution on the activity of democratic institutions in the country based on a report submitted by the co-rapporteurs of the assembly’s Monitoring Committee – Andres Herkel of Estonia and Joseph Debono Grech of Malta.
In his speech, Herkel claimed that freedom of assembly is being restricted in Azerbaijan, saying the opposition is not being allowed to protest.
Grech, for his part, said positive developments were being seen as well, and "suitable conditions should be provided to build on them".
"I think we will be able to raise Azerbaijan to the level we have in mind," he said.
Michael Hancock, a British politician, disagreed with the criticism cited in the report, saying "one cannot claim the absence of a democratic system in Azerbaijan."
Most of the speakers touched on the parliamentary elections to be held in Azerbaijan in November, saying the poll will be a peculiar test for democracy.
The PACE resolution called on the Azerbaijani authorities "to ensure the necessary conditions" for the full compliance of the November parliamentary elections with the European standards. In line with the conclusions of the monitoring co-rapporteurs, it encouraged the authorities to co-operate with the Venice Commission in order to continue with the revision of the Electoral Code and to "generate conditions for a fair electoral campaign" by fully implementing the law on the freedom of assembly and by ensuring the freedom of the media.
In this context, the PACE called on the Azerbaijani authorities "to pass on a clear message, at the highest political level, that electoral fraud will not be tolerated" and urged all political parties to take part in the forthcoming elections. The Assembly stressed that these elections were all the more important given that "it was necessary to reinforce the application of the constitutionally-guaranteed principle of the separation of powers".
Lastly, with regard to the media situation, the Assembly condemned what it called the arrests and harassment of journalists, reiterated its position that defamation should be decriminalised.*
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