29 March 2004, 16:54
Ombudsperson reports to Azerbaijan parliament
Commissioner for Human Rights (ombudsperson) Elmira Suleymanova presented her first annual report "On the State of Affairs in the Field of Human Rights and Freedoms in Azerbaijan" to the Azerbaijan parliament on March 26.
In the course of the debate, opposition deputies laid strictures on the ombudswoman's activity in the pre-election period and after the presidential election. In particular, they pointed out that opposition presidential contenders had been insulted by the media, their ability to electioneer had been limited but Elmira Suleymanova's stance was only contemplative at that time.
They criticized her for keeping silence during the brutal dispersal of meetings arranged by the opposition on October 15 and 16 and the use of torture to arrested oppositionists.
However the parliamentary majority spoke in support of the ombudswoman and found her report to be satisfactory.
Source: REGNUM News Agency
