Baku. Malahat Najafova – APA. The co-rapporteurs of the Monitoring Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) expressed their concerns over the amendments made to the Criminal Case and Code of Administrative Offences, said co-rapporteurs of the PACE Monitoring Committee for Azerbaijan Pedro Agramunt and Joseph Debono Grekh in their statement to the website of the organization on the outcomes of their visit to Azerbaijan on November 26-28. According to him, the increase of the fines for organizers and participants of “unauthorized” demonstrations can have negative impact on freedom of assembly and freedom of expression.
Furthermore, the co-rapporteurs raised their concerns with regard to a number of human rights defenders, activists and journalists detained on criminal charges following trials. They called on the authorities to use all available legal tools to release those prisoners.
The co-rapporteurs will present the final version of their report and a draft resolution for consideration by the Monitoring Committee on 12 December 2012. The document will be discussed at the winter session of the Parliamentary Assembly in January, 2013.
During their visit to Azerbaijan, the co-rapporteurs met with the Azerbaijan’s President, Speaker of Azerbaijani parliament, Foreign Minister, Interior Minister, Justice Minister, Chairman of Supreme Court, General Prosecutor, leaders of political parties represented in the parliament and representatives of civil society.
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