Menu
Latest
Menu
Latest
PACE condemns Azerbaijan crackdown on human rights.

PACE condemns Azerbaijan crackdown on human rights.

25 June 2015

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has condemned “the crackdown on human rights in Azerbaijan” and called for an end to the “systemic repression” of human rights defenders, the media and those critical of the government, including politically motivated prosecutions. In a resolution supported by all the political factions in the Assembly it called on the Azerbaijan authorities to release all political prisoners, including those who in the past co-operated with the Council of Europe. After a vote the resolution was approved with 140 votes in favour, 13 against and 8 abstentions.

The  resolution on “the functioning of democratic institutions in Azerbaijan” is based on a report by Pedro Agramunt (Spain, EPP/CD) and Tadeusz Iwinski (Poland, SOC) who are the current rapporteurs on Azerbaijan.  The resolution also welcomed the reduction of corruption levels in Azerbaijan, especially due to the network of public service halls known as ASAN centres, and recent legal changes to the judiciary.

The parliamentarians made a series of recommendations to the authorities of Azerbaijan as part of the Assembly’s ongoing monitoring of the country – including steps to reinforce democratic “checks and balances” in the system, ensure a fairer electoral framework, and further boost judicial independence.

You can read the resolution in full and look how the parliamentarians from each country voted here

source: commonspace.eu with the Press Service of PACE

Related articles

Editor's choice
News
Borrell tells the European Parliament that the situation in Afghanistan was critical, but the EU will remain engaged
Trending

Borrell tells the European Parliament that the situation in Afghanistan was critical, but the EU will remain engaged

9 June 2021
Borrell underlined that the European Union will make every effort to support the peace process and to remain a committed partner to the Afghan people. "Of course, we will have to take into account the evolving situation, but disengagement is not an option.  We are clear on that: there is no alternative to a negotiated political settlement, through inclusive peace talks.
Editor's choice
News
Turkiye to host COP31 in 2026
Trending

Turkiye to host COP31 in 2026

20 November 2025
A consensus has emerged during COP 30, currently being held in Belan, Brazil, that COP 31 will be held in the Turkish city of Antalya, in 2026. In 2026 Turkiye will host another global event, the NATO leaders summit. Turkiye is set to host COP31 after reaching compromise with Australia.  The COP31 climate meeting is now expected to be held in Turkey after Australia dropped its bid to host the annual event. Under the UN rules, the right to host the COP in 2026 falls to a group of countries made up of Western Europe, Australia and others. A consensus must be reached but neither country had been willing to concede. Australia has now agreed to support the Turkish bid in return for their minister chairing the talks following negotiations at COP30, currently being held in Brazil. This unusual arrangement has taken observers by surprise. It is normal for a COP president to be from the host country and how this new partnership will work in practice remains to be seen. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has called the compromise with Turkey an "outstanding result" in an interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), noting Pacific issues would be "front and centre". He added that he had spoken to Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape and Prime Minister Rabuka of Fiji. There will be relief among countries currently meeting at COP30 in the Brazilian city of Belém that a compromise has been reached as the lack of agreement on the venue was becoming an embarrassment for the UN.

Popular

Editor's choice
News
Turkiye to host COP31 in 2026
Trending

Turkiye to host COP31 in 2026

20 November 2025
A consensus has emerged during COP 30, currently being held in Belan, Brazil, that COP 31 will be held in the Turkish city of Antalya, in 2026. In 2026 Turkiye will host another global event, the NATO leaders summit. Turkiye is set to host COP31 after reaching compromise with Australia.  The COP31 climate meeting is now expected to be held in Turkey after Australia dropped its bid to host the annual event. Under the UN rules, the right to host the COP in 2026 falls to a group of countries made up of Western Europe, Australia and others. A consensus must be reached but neither country had been willing to concede. Australia has now agreed to support the Turkish bid in return for their minister chairing the talks following negotiations at COP30, currently being held in Brazil. This unusual arrangement has taken observers by surprise. It is normal for a COP president to be from the host country and how this new partnership will work in practice remains to be seen. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has called the compromise with Turkey an "outstanding result" in an interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), noting Pacific issues would be "front and centre". He added that he had spoken to Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape and Prime Minister Rabuka of Fiji. There will be relief among countries currently meeting at COP30 in the Brazilian city of Belém that a compromise has been reached as the lack of agreement on the venue was becoming an embarrassment for the UN.