Commissioner O’Flaherty published today a letter he addressed to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, in which he asks the authorities for the immediate release of all human rights defenders, journalists and civil society activists who are imprisoned for their legitimate work or for expressing dissenting or critical opinions and to drop the criminal charges against them, as well as related restrictions, including a ban on travelling abroad.
The Commissioner also asks the Azerbaijani authorities to conduct an effective investigation into the allegations of ill-treatment of several human rights defenders, journalists and activists while in police custody, and to ensure compliance with the rights of access to a lawyer and adequate medical care.
He further urges the Azerbaijani authorities to ensure that all laws and practices in connection with the freedoms of association, peaceful assembly and expression and the situation of human rights defenders, journalists and civil society activists comply with the relevant Council of Europe human rights standards, including by fully implementing the relevant judgments of the European Court of Human Rights.