Arzu Abdullayeva Discussed Political Prisoners Issue with Secretary General of Council of Europe

The situation in Azerbaijan's human rights record was discussed on February 21 in Strasbourg, by the Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland with the Chairman of the Azerbaijan National Committee of Helsinki Civil Assembly Arzu Abdullayeva.

As stated in the report of the Committee to Protect Civil Society, in particular, questions were raised about the need to release the leader of the movement REAL Ilgar Mammadov, remove restrictions on the activities of political parties, NGOs and the media, provide freedom of assembly and decide civil society issues.

Abdullayeva also informed about the problem of political prisoners, the existence of various lists of persons in this category and the options for addressing the problems of this category of prisoners.

Jagland expressed his support for the decree to reform the Penitentiary Service, which may contribute to the overall mitigation of the situation, the report said. -06D-