PACE monitoring committee’s report on Azerbaijan might be softened

The session will focus on the reports by the Monitoring Committee, as well as a report on political prisoners in Azerbaijan prepared by the Committee on Human Rights.

«The report will reflect the positive milestones concerning the sanctioning of the opposition rally on 4 June by the authorities. If there are any other changes, in particular, those concerning the Law on legal profession, they will be included in the report as positive milestones,” Lindberg noted.

He attributed the sanctioning of the opposition rally on 4 June as a step forward. He voiced his hope in the continuation of the practice. Lindberg underlined the CE welcomes the political dialogue between the authorities and the opposition

According to Lindberg, the European MPs will express their concerns in the PACE session in connection with the authorities’ unwillingness to include changes in the composition of the elections commissions to ensure the parity in participation of the political forces. “Besides, the changes cannot guarantee fair elections,” he underlined. He noted that in case Azerbaijani Central Elections Commission presents experts for holding repeated discussions with the country’s government on injecting changes to the composition of the elections commissions.

Lindbergh said that the issue of application of sanctions on the CE on Azerbaijan might evolve any time. «To my mind, in the current situation it would be inexpedient to impose sanctions on Azerbaijan,» CE official underlined.