The Institute for Reporters’ Freedom and Safety (IRFS) welcomes the adoption of theresolution on Azerbaijan, notably the case of Mehman Huseynov by the European Parliament. IRFS also joins the Human Rights Committee of the Council of Europe Conference of INGOs, and calls on PACE to follow suit and hold an urgent debate during the first part of the 2019 session to address deteriorating human rights situation in Azerbaijan, which is totally incompatible with the Council of Europe standards and obligations.

We wish to highlight that the European Parliament resolution was adopted by an overwhelming majority of 533 votes on 17 January 2019. It condemns the new bogus charges against Mehman Huseynov, a prominent Azerbaijani anti-corruption blogger and human rights defender, and demands his immediate and unconditional release. On December 26, 2017, new spurious charges were leveled against Mehman Huseynov in order to further restrict his activities and freedom. He now could serve up to 7 additional years in prison. Mr. Huseynov was arrested in March 2017 and sentenced to 2 years of imprisonment on defamation charges.

Mehman Huseynov’s case has garnered world-wide attention and support, demonstrating that the international community is seriously reconsidering future relations with Azerbaijan and its leadership, in view of this latest wave of repression against freedom of speech and human rights.

Commissioner for Human Rights Dunja Mijatovic and the co-rapporteurs of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) for the monitoring of Azerbaijan, Sir Roger Gale (United Kingdom, EC) and Stefan Schennach (Austria, SOC) have expressed their deep concerns about the new charges brought against Mehman Huseynov.

IRFS appeals to Secretary General of Council of Europe to urgently bring the issue to the immediate attention of PACE during his address to the house. IRFS calls on PACE to adopt a resolution on Azerbaijan, as was done by-the European Parliament. Since they do not have EU membership, the EU resolution does not have the same leverage as PACE resolutions and statements. Azerbaijan is a member of the Council of Europe and is bound by the common rules and commitments which would oblige them to respond to the international appeal, under the threat of losing its seat in this important institution.

PACE should reinforce its efforts to achieve the objectives that were originally outlined in the 16 October 2018 motion for a resolution“Follow-up to the Azerbaijani Laundromat investigation”, where Mehman Huseynov’s case is also mentioned.

PACE should demand that Azerbaijan

– immediately release all prisoners of conscience, drop criminal charges against numerous human rights defenders, ensure the right to freedom of mobility and stop arbitrary disbarment of lawyers;

– amend repressive legislation without delay to ensure that civil society groups and organizations can freely operate;

– guarantee freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, and allow independent media to function without state control, which is paramount for the functioning of any democratic society;

Finally, we strongly encourage Council of Europe members to adopt legislation similar to the Magnitsky Act to put an end to impunity for human rights violators.