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US State Department releases Advancing Freedom and Democracy Reports

29 May 2008 10:46 (UTC +04:00)

Torture and beating of persons in police and military custody resulted in four deaths in 2007, and security forces continue to act with impunity. Despite improvements in infrastructure, arbitrary arrest and detention, particularly of individuals considered by the government to be political opponents, and lengthy pretrial detention continue, said in the report and it expressed concern over the detention without court decisions, arrest of journalists on concrete criminal articles, as well as unsolved murder of journalist Elmar Huseynov. The United States said it would continue its support to develop an independent, professional media. It was said in the report that there were problems in the judiciary and in law enforcement. Restrictions on freedom of assembly continue. Restrictions on media freedom and political participation worsened in 2007. The government imposes restrictions on the activities of some unregistered religious groups. Cases of violence against women have been reported, said in the report and it emphasized that the government made steps to solve the problem of trafficking in persons and US would support it to address the problem. The U.S. government’s human rights and democracy strategy focuses on promoting five key sectors of democratic development: democratic political processes; the rule of law and the fight against corruption; respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms; respect for media freedom; and an engaged, empowered, and educated citizenry. The United States will continue its work to normalize relations between the government and media and to develop an independent, professional media. The United States will engage in policy and programming activities to support a fair and free presidential election in October 2008 that meets international standards, including the full restoration of freedom of assembly. The United States will continue assistance to strengthen the accountability and transparency of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches, as well as of civil society. The United States has a regular dialogue with Azerbaijani Government in the field of democracy and human rights, said in the report.