Azerbaijan: it is better to consult in advance, say PACE co-rapporteurs following visit

“It is better to consult on sensitive issues in advance,” said Andres Herkel (Estonia, EPP/CD) and Evguenia Jivkova (Bulgaria, SOC), co-rapporteurs for the monitoring of Azerbaijan by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), commenting on the 18 March Constitutional referendum at the end of a three-day fact-finding visit to the country (8-10 April).

“We wish that the draft amendments on the Constitution had been sent to the Venice Commission well ahead of the referendum. Seeking Council of Europe expertise in advance would have allowed the adoption of legislation in line with European standards,” the co-rapporteurs pointed out.

They recommended that the draft law on conflict of interest be sent for opinion to the Venice Commission, the Council of Europe’s group of independent legal experts, before its adoption by parliament. They also welcomed President Aliyev’s decision to send to the Commission certain draft laws on the implementation of amendments to the Constitution adopted by the referendum.

Mr Herkel and Mrs Jivkova welcomed the release from prison of Mirza Sakit on Thursday 9 April, but encouraged the authorities to further release imprisoned journalists.

During their visit, the two co-rapporteurs held meetings with the President of the Republic, the Speaker of the Milli Mejlis and the Justice Minister and Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister, as well as members of the majority and opposition parties, journalists, ambassadors and NGOs. The rapporteurs also paid a visit to the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.

They also visited Novruzali Mammadov, a 68-year-old scientist-linguist and editor-in-chief of the Talysh language newspaper, who is currently imprisoned in Penitentiary Centre No. 15.

The aim of the visit was to assess Azerbaijan’s progress in fulfilling its obligations and commitments as a Council of Europe member state, in particular as regards the state of democracy, human rights and rule of law, with a view to preparing a new PACE report on Azerbaijan.