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Baku expresses opinion on Strasserâ€™s report on political prisoners

27 June 2012 12:35 (UTC +04:00)

Baku. Kamala Guliyeva â€“ APA. â€œThe report made by Christopher Strasser is analyzed by the relevant organizations. Azerbaijan and the Council of Europe have different positions on this issue. We consider that there is no political prisoner in Azerbaijan, there are people arrested for concrete actions despite that some of these persons are actively involved in politics, but it can not secure them from being convicted for their actions. This is Azerbaijanâ€™s positionâ€, head of the public policy department of the Presidential Administration Ali Hasanov told APA.

He said Azerbaijan many times asked the Council of Europe and other organizations, which give recommendations concerning the political prisoner problem, to specify the criteria of the concept of political prisoner. â€œThese criteria should be implemented in same order in different countries. Earlier we protested the Strasserâ€™s visit and took relevant measures. We also protested his appointment as a rapporteur on Azerbaijan. The talks are still going on. The issue was raised before the Committee and it was decided to include it in PACE agenda in September. This issue is analyzed by the relevant organizations of Azerbaijan and they will express opinion on it.â€

The official said that Strasser had subjective position when included the names of 90 persons in Azerbaijan in the political prisoner criterion. â€œAzerbaijan has own approach and methods in this issue. Strasser has subjective approach. It is controversial how many people he included in this criteria, because there have been different ideas in Azerbaijan for a long time. Azerbaijani and European law defense organizations can not reach unanimous opinion. There is discrepancy in determination of category and criteria of political prisoner. We donâ€™t agree with the Strasserâ€™s report. We will send our written opinion to the Council of Europe and other relevant organizations.â€

Ali Hasanov also commented on the pardon decree signed by the Azerbaijani President and release of nine persons detained during the Public Chamberâ€™s actions: â€œThe President has again created an opportunity for these persons to return to the true way. Protection of socio-political stability in Azerbaijan, observation of rules of social behavior and obey the demands of the law-enforcement bodies are the provisions of law. People, who violated provisions of law, were subjected to the relevant punishments. The President of Azerbaijan has again created an opportunity for these people that after this they behave in accordance with the laws.â€

The official also commented on the arrest of editor-in-chief of â€œTolishi-Sadoâ€ newspaper Hilal Mammadov: â€œThe investigation is being carried out on it, the court has not issued an order yet. Thatâ€™s why I donâ€™t want to comment on this issue. Unfortunately, people, who are working in law defense field in Azerbaijan, also try to politicize it and estimate it as pressure. But there are concrete facts. Currently the relevant organizations are carrying out works on it. The public community will be informed about the results.â€