Doc. 11627

6 June 2008

The functioning of democratic institutions in Azerbaijan

Report

Committee on the Honouring of Obligations and Commitments by Member States of the Council of Europe (Monitoring Committee)

Co-rapporteurs: Mr Andres HERKEL, Estonia, Group of the European People’s Party and Mrs Evguenia JIVKOVA, Bulgaria, Socialist Group

Summary

On 15 October 2008, Azerbaijan will be holding its second presidential election since its accession to the Council of Europe in 2001. Taking into account that all the ballots held since have generally failed to meet basic democratic standards, the Monitoring Committee underlines that the country cannot afford to fall short again in meeting the Council of Europe commitments and standards for democratic elections.

In this context, the Monitoring Committee can only express great concern about the deteriorating human rights situation in Azerbaijan, which undermines any efforts made by the authorities to meet basic democratic standards in the forthcoming presidential election.

Restrictions on the freedom of expression, the harassment and intimidation of opposition journalists through defamation court proceedings, imprisonment, physical attacks and threats, and limitations of the right to freedom of assembly and association are matters of great concern, which the Monitoring Committee considers inadmissible in a Council of Europe member state.

In order for Azerbaijan to honour its obligations and commitments to the Council of Europe, these issues have to be addressed without further delay and in time before the next presidential election. The Monitoring Committee urges all relevant authorities to take the following urgent steps:

- ensure balanced election commissions and an efficient complaints procedure;

- provide free broadcast time and print space in state media under equal conditions for political parties and blocs;

- guarantee the opposition’s right to hold public rallies.

The Monitoring Committee also demands the immediate release of opposition journalists Ganimat Zahidov, Sakit Zahidov and Eynulla Fatullayev, as well as of prisoners Natiq Efendiyev, Rasim Alekperov, Ruslan Bashirli, Akif Huseynov and Telman Ismayilov.