we are following with great concern the recent political developments in Azerbaijan

to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

the Speaker of the Parliament of Azerbaijan

the Minister of Foreign Affairs

the Minister of Internal Affairs

the Chair of the Delegation of Azerbaijan to the EURONEST PA

Dear Excellencies,

we are following with great concern the recent political developments in Azerbaijan, in particular as regards to arrests of political opposition leaders, the disruption of a training session of a domestic election observation organization and the newly amended Law on Grants and the Law on Non-Governmental Organizations.

The arrest of Republican Alternative Movement chairman and potential presidential candidate Ilgar Mammadov and Yeni Musavat newspaper journalist and Musavat Party deputy chairman Tofig Yagublu one month ago on organizing mass riots pose serious questions about the politically motivated background of the prosecution.

On February 12th 2013, the civil society activists Gunay Ismayilova and Javid Nabiyev, both representing Election Monitoring and Democracy Studies Center (EMDS) experienced police harassment and were detained while they were holding training on citizensґ participation in public policy in Khachmaz region. The two now risk further investigation and criminal persecution.

Let us point out in this regard that the EMDS is part of the European Platform for Democratic Elections, a European NGO network that presented their guidelines and goals just days before the clampdown in the European Parliament. Against that background it is even more disturbing on what grounds EMDS was searched and the training session interrupted especially in light of the upcoming presidential elections in October 2013.

Besides these concrete cases we received further worrying news on bans on the freedom of assembly, huge fines for organizers or participants of public gatherings, mass arrests, preventing NGOs from organizing events in both, regions and Baku, threats against representatives of opposition and independent media aiming on a prohibition to report about problems of society.

Another disturbing information is the approval by the parliament of amendments envisaging tightening control over grants and donations received by NGOs, religious structures and other organizations, and imposing huge fines and even confiscation of property. It seems to us that this new law should serve as an instrument to further restrict the scope of action of the civil society.

As already agreed in the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms in 1953, which entered into force in Azerbaijan on the 15 April 2002, freedom of expression and freedom of assembly and association, constitute some of the most important principles within the Council of Europe. It is a key element of democracy that citizens can express their ideas and opinions, even if they are not in line with the official government position.

We therefore call on the Azerbaijani government and Parliament to show the necessary political will to carry out progressive reforms in the areas of freedom of expression and assembly, which are very important with respect to the forthcoming elections.

We urge you as Head of the Euronest Delegation of Azerbaijan to negotiate with the government the immediate release of Ilgar Mammadov and Tofig Yagublu, as well as the other jailed journalists and political prisoners and to ensure that further harassments will not take place.

In our view Azerbaijanґs future should lie in the integration and close co-operation with the European Union. Basis for a common future in Europe is the sharing of common values. Democracy, the rule of law, the freedom of speech and assembly and the freedom of media are core values of the Eastern Partnership and should not just be words written down on paper but also practically implemented. This is something which is close to our hearts. With this in mind we look forward to a successful achievement of our joint efforts and a common European future based on the above mentioned values.

Respectfully,

Ulrike Lunacek, MEP

Vice-President The Greens/EFA

Member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs

Member of the Delegation to the EU-Armenia, EU-Azerbaijan and EU-Georgia Parliamentary Cooperation Conmmittees

Substitute of the Delegation to the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly

Werner Schulz, MEP

The Greens/EFA 

Member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs 

Member of the Delegation to the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly