Bahar Muradova: "There are no grounds for appointment of a new rapporteur for political prisoners in Azerbaijan"

“Some people want the appointment of a new rapporteur of Council of Europe for political prisoners in Azerbaijan and adoption of the decision. Unfortunately, there are people in Azerbaijan who support this,” deputy chairman of Milli Majlis (Parliament) of Republic of Azerbaijan, Bahar Muradova said.

She considers that the appointment of a new rapporteur requires not only collecting of signatures but also studying the opinion of the government. She said adoption of such a decision without taking into consideration the opinion of Azerbaijani government would not be expedient.

She said she does not expect the attitude towards the issue to cause serious differences.

Muradova refused to elaborate on the government's position on the appointment of a new rapporteur.

“If such idea has appeared, a new rapporteur will be probably appointed. But I would not like to comment on the possibility. There are no grounds to appoint a new rapporteur for political prisoners in Azerbaijan today. Nobody has been brought to responsibility for political activity in Azerbaijan. People who were arrested for any crime are merely members of various parties. Being member of any party does not release any citizen from responsibility for law offenses. I do not have any information about existence of political prisoners in Azerbaijan", B.Muradova added.

/APA/