PACE Co-Rapporteur Mailis Reps urges Azerbaijani authorities to release arrested activists

Estonian MP Mailis Reps, PACE Co-Rapporteur to strengthen the role and protection of human rights in the Council of Europe member states, has expressed the concern about the deterioration of human rights activists in Azerbaijan. Mailis Reps has called on the Azerbaijani authorities to release Ilgar Mamedov, Anar Mamedli, and Bashir Suleimanly. This was reported by the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

"The situation of human rights defenders in Azerbaijan has sharply deteriorated since my last visit to the country in November 2013," Mailis Reps has declared in her statement. This was reported by the press service of the PACE (Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe).

"Besides, NGOs working on human rights issues face serious difficulties in registering or obtaining financing," Mailis Reps believes. According to the PACE Co-Rapporteur, "that continuous attack on civil society and persistent violations of fundamental rights are unacceptable."

Let us remind you that on May 14, Azerbaijan started its six-month presidency on the rotation in the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.

Rasul Djafarov, the head of the Society of Legal Protection and Education, treats the statement as strong support for civil society in Azerbaijan.

According to Rasul Djafarov, "various institutions of the Council of Europe already begin to realize that in Azerbaijan, the situation on human rights comes to the red line when the reputation of the very Council of Europe is at stake."

See earlier reports: "PACE President urges Azerbaijani authorities to release Ilgar Mamedov", "Human rights defenders and opposition leaders criticize Azerbaijani authorities for guilty verdict to Ilgar Mamedov and Tofig Yagublu", "AI demands to immediately release Ilgar Mamedov and Tofig Yagublu in Azerbaijan".