11 May 2014, 13:41
Activists urge French President to raise human rights issues during his visit to Azerbaijan
On the eve of the two-day official visit to Baku of French President Francois Hollande that starts in the evening on May 11, Azerbaijani civil society activists had urged him to raise the issues of human rights violations in his talks with the country's leadership.
Human rights issues in Azerbaijan should be an important part of the negotiations with President Ilham Aliev, says the activists' appeal to French President.
"We urge you to make it clear that no progress in French-Azerbaijani relations in economy and security is possible without a tangible progress in addressing the ongoing harassment and intimidation of rights defenders, journalists and political activists in Azerbaijan, and systematic violations of the freedoms of expression, association and peaceful assemblies," says the appeal, signed by 30 well-known activists.
Author: Faik Medzhid Source: CK correspondent
