Political emigrants protest in PACE during the speech of Mammadyarov

A group of Azerbaijani political refugees protested on October 2 at the PACE session in Strasbourg, when the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov was making a speech. Activists in the lodge hall chanted "Freedom to political prisoners in Azerbaijan!"

After the head of the PACE, Anne Brasseur, asked the protesters to keep quiet, the action continued in the silent form: political emigrants dressed in red T-shirts with images of political prisoners raised their hands.

Brasseur herself, before giving the floor to Mammadyarov, wished to hear the explanation of the processes occurring in the country. At the same time, she noted that she meant the arrests of activists that are a concern.

Brasseur said that last week was in Azerbaijan she met with some of those arrested. She noted that there are serious problems in Azerbaijan with compliance with CE standards, in particular in the area of ​​judicial independence, freedom of assembly, expression, and these problems must be solved quickly.

Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers is not only a responsibility, but also a good opportunity to demonstrate commitment to its obligations to the Council of Europe.  Baku still has time to take steps in these areas prior to the completion of Azerbaijan's chairmanship. However Mammadyarov in his speech went through all these questions, and talked about general topics, describing the activities of the Council of Europe during the presidency of Azerbaijan.

It is noteworthy that, in speaking about the events in Ukraine, he did not mention Russia. Nevertheless, the problem of human rights rose PACE deputies.

Robert Bedron, in particular, asked why tax organs audit only independent NGOs, but it does not apply to the Heydar Aliyev Foundation?

 Asking the question from Tiny Koch ,why after Ilham Aliyev promised to hold a round table on the topic of political prisoners,  new arrests continued in Azerbaijan, and  but no dialogue was held,   Mammadyarov explained it by "summer vacation",  and said that after the Qurban Bayram a work in this direction will start.

The question from McNamara how the arrests of human rights defenders Leyla Yunus, Intigam Aliyev, Rasul Jafarov affect the image of the member of the Council of Europe, Mammadyarov said that he had already answered this question from McNamara in Baku, and they have different views on this issue.

In conclusion, the Minister denied the existence of political prisoners in Azerbaijan.—1606D-