Commissioner Muižnieks intervenes in cases concerning Azerbaijan before the European Court of Human Rights
Today, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Nils Muižnieks, published written observations submitted to the European Court of Human Rights on the case of Hilal Mammadov against Azerbaijan, in which he stresses the systematic deficiencies in the area of freedom of expression, including judicial harassment of critical voices, and a pattern of retaliatory measures against those who co-operate with international organisations to expose human rights violations in the country.
“The case of Hilal Mammadov, whom I met in 2012 and 2013 in a pre-trial detention centre, is emblematic of the reprisals that journalists, bloggers and human rights defenders face in Azerbaijan because of their work. They are often harassed with unjustified or selective criminal prosecution on charges that defy credibility, a structural problem which both affects the human rights of the persons concerned and obstructs the functioning of international human rights mechanisms. It is high time that Azerbaijan complies with its obligations and restores a climate in which dissent can be expressed without fear of repression.”
Third party interventions represent an additional tool at the Commissioner’s disposal to help promote and protect human rights. They are foreseen by the European Convention on Human Rights and are based on the Commissioner’s country and thematic activities. These observations do not include any comments on the facts or merits of the case, but provide objective and impartial information to the Court on aspects of concern to the Commissioner.
Today’s intervention is the first of five that the Commissioner will submit regarding Azerbaijan. The next ones will concern the cases of Intigam Aliyev, Rasul Jafarov, Anar Mammadli and Leyla and Arif Yunus.
The Commissioner has visited Azerbaijan in November 2012, May 2013 and October 2014 recommending improving respect for freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and freedom of association. -02D-
-
- Social
- 24 February 2015 15:29
Politics
-
On 10 and 11 October, Commissioner for Climate Action Wopke Hoekstra attended the last ministerial meeting before COP29. With just a month to go until the COP29 in Baku, it was an important occasion to address topics like climate finance, international carbon markets and Article 6, adaptation, mitigation, transparent reporting and the follow-up of the COP28 commitment to accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels.
-
In a case that is disappointing but not surprising, the agreement between the government of Azerbaijan and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) for hosting the climate conference COP29, is replete with significant shortcomings and ambiguities on the protections for participants’ rights. Human Rights Watch has obtained a copy of this host country agreement, signed in August 2024, which has yet to be made public.
-
On October 12, a video conference meeting was held at the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense with the participation of military leadership, commanders of the branches of the armed forces, and leaders of major military units. Minister of Defense Zakir Hasanov, recalling statements by President Ilham Aliyev, emphasized that the main goal of the army is to enhance military power and combat capabilities, as well as to prepare professional personnel.
-
As part of a criminal investigation into violations of the law within the structures of the State Service for Mobilization and Military Conscription of Azerbaijan, the head of the Khojavend District branch, Major Sadig Aliyev, has been arrested. According to the press service of the Military Prosecutor's Office of Azerbaijan, there are reasonable suspicions that Aliyev committed acts as outlined in Article 311.3.2 (repeated bribery) and Article 311.3.3 (receiving a large bribe) of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan.
Müdafiə Nazirliyində nə baş verir? О чем договорились Алиев и Пашинян в Москве? - беседа с Борисом Навасардяном
News Line
-
- Social,
- 13:31
- 356
Leave a review