The Institute for Reporters’ Freedom and Safety cordially invites you to a side event: Azerbaijan’s Kleptocracy, Repression and Council of Europe Membership.
Tuesday 22 January, 13:00-14:00
Venue: Room 11, Palais de L’Europe
Today, the Council of Europe member states Azerbaijan and Russia are more repressive than they have ever been in the post-Soviet era. At the same time, Danske Bank’s Estonia branch has been involved in three international money laundering schemes: the “Russian Laundromat,” the “Azerbaijani Laundromat,” and what it calls “Hermitage Capital Management.”
What can PACE do to hold the human rights abusers and those who help fuel repression accountable? Business as usual is no longer an option. Our speakers will discuss concrete, feasible strategies to address impunity for human rights violations in the Council of Europe area.
Moderator: Gulnara AKHUNDOVA, Head of Department for Global Response at International Media Support, Denmark
Speakers:
Pieter Omtzigt, PACE member, EPP
Emin HUSEYNOV, Director for Institute for Reporters’ Freedom and Safety (IRFS)
Rasul Dzafarov, civil-society activist and human rights defender, chairman of a non-governmental organisation (NGO), Human Rights Club