Azernews.Az

BAKU – Azerbaijan’s ruling party has labeled as biased the US State Department’s annual report criticizing the country’s human rights record, saying it contained "instances of seriously distorting Azerbaijan realities."

The report, issued Friday, claimed that the 2010 parliamentary elections fell short of key standards for democratic elections and cited restrictions on freedom of expression, assembly and the media.

"When a given country draws up a report on the political and social situation in other states, it should be clarified to what extent they have the moral right to do so," Ali Ahmadov, deputy chairman of the Yeni (New) Azerbaijan Party, told reporters.

"I believe it is impossible to justify any country’s preparing a report that distorts Azerbaijan’s realities. A bias and non-objectiveness are clearly being seen here," Ahmadov said.

The State Department’s report claimed that Azerbaijan’s presidential election in 2008 was "flawed"; constitutionally mandated presidential term limits were removed in a March 2009 referendum, which was also "seriously flawed". The report also alleged that there were reports that torture and beating of persons in police and military custody resulted in at least seven deaths; arbitrary arrest and detention "continued"; and the government imprisoned persons for political reasons, although authorities released some of these individuals during the year. The report said there was "pervasive corruption" in the country, including in the judiciary and law enforcement.