04 February 2008, 18:55
PACE Rapporteurs were told about the problem of political prisoners in Azerbaijan
Today the Rapporteurs of the PACE Monitoring Committee Andres Herkel and Evgenia Zhivkova have begun their meetings in Baku within their four-day visit.
The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was informed at the Council of Europe's Office in Azerbaijan that the Rapporteurs had already held their meetings with NGO representatives, human rights activists, members of political parties and mass media.
Leila Yunus, Director of the Institute for Peace and Democracy, has noted that the basic topic of the talks was the problem of political prisoners and appointment of a new PACE Rapporteur on political prisoners.
Later, Mr Yunus has added that the Rapporteurs expressed their understanding of the problem and promised to raise this issue when meetings the authorities.
In his turn, Deputy Zakhid Orudzh expressed his attitude to the issue of political prisoners and noted that there are no political prisoners in Azerbaijan; however, the country faces the problem of politicization of prisoners.
According to the MP, certain forces are interested in politicization of the problem: "Political parties are using it as an instrument against the authorities. NGOs are also pursuing their interest in the issue and use it as the means of profit-making."
Author: Rafael Gasanov, CK correspondent
