Today, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, published written observations submitted to the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Emin Huseynov against Azerbaijan, relating to the deprivation of nationality of the applicant, who subsequently became stateless. The Commissioner stresses the clear pattern of repression in Azerbaijan against those expressing dissent or criticism of the authorities and underscores that deprivation of nationality can also be used as a tool of punishment to silence dissenting and critical voices. The consequences for the enjoyment by these persons of their human rights are even more serious when deprivation of nationality leads to statelessness, she adds.
“The deprivation of nationality of the applicant should not be viewed in isolation but as part of a broader pattern of intimidation of human rights defenders in Azerbaijan”, Commissioner Mijatović writes.
Third party interventions represent an additional tool at the Commissioner’s disposal to help promote and protect human rights. They are foreseen by the European Convention on Human Rights and are based on the Commissioner’s country and thematic activities. These observations do not include any comments on the facts or merits of the case, but provide objective and impartial information to the Court on aspects of concern to the Commissioner.
