Azerbaijan under the spotlight as Council of Europe examines country"s human rights record

As a co-rapporteur of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) starts his visit to Azerbaijan, Amnesty International calls on him not to close his eyes to the seriousness of the ongoing human rights violations in the country.

During his visit 26-28 November 2012, Pedro Agramunt will assess whether and how Azerbaijan is honouring its obligations and commitments to the Council of Europe. The report will be debated at the next Assembly session (21-25 January 2013).

In its Submission to the PACE Committee on the honouring of obligations and commitments by member states of the Council of Europe in view of visit to Azerbaijan, Amnesty International reiterates its concerns regarding the shrinking space for freedom of expression, assembly and association as well as ongoing torture and other ill-treatment.

Amnesty International's expert on Azerbaijan, Natalia Nozadze, is in Baku to present the organization's concerns to PACE's co-rapporteur and to take part in his meeting with non-governmental organizations, reads the Amnesty International press release. -0-