CoE Secretary General expects tangible results in the release of political prisoners

The Secretary-General of CoE Thorbjorn Jagland praised the reconstruction of Azerbaijan Joint Working Group on Human Rights with the participation of representatives of government and civil society, and the last decree of pardon. At the same time, he called for the release of many other political prisoners, including the leader of the REAL Ilgar Mamedov.

As noted Jagland in a statement released late Wednesday, according to the agreement between the Secretary General of the Council of Europe and the President of Azerbaijan on October 22 for the first time since 2008, a meeting of the Joint Working Group on Human Rights consisting of about 18 human rights activists, members of parliament and officials of the Presidential Administration was conducted.

The purpose of the meeting of the joint working group, which was also attended by a representative of the Council of Europe, was the revival of the dialogue between civil society and the authorities of Azerbaijan.

The Secretary-General Jagland described this meeting as a step towards the improvement of the current human rights situation in the country.

"The release of four human rights activists among 80 convicts, who were pardoned by presidential decree last week, was the first positive step. I sincerely hope that today's meeting will lead to tangible results and the release of more activists. Specifically, I'm looking forward to the release of Ilgar Mamedov, in whose case the European Court of human Rights announced the final verdict last week," said Jagland. -06D--