According to “Radio Liberty”, Secretary General of Council of Europe Terry Davis said in a press conference he conducted in Strasburg today (25 June) that he is certain that the Azerbaijani government take the recommendations of the Parliament Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) seriously and adopt a decision about what how to proceed.
According to Davis, Azerbaijan needs media and expression freedom to conduct democratic elections. He emphasized that Azerbaijan government doesn’t treat journalists fairly and he is not satisfied with such an attitude.
Recall that, a resolution about Azerbaijan was adopted yesterday (24 June) during a meeting of PACE. It is noted in the resolution that the restrictions on freedom of expression – including the harassment and intimidation of opposition journalists – and limits on freedom of assembly and association are “inadmissible in a Council of Europe member state.” It is also emphasized in the resolution that the issue of political prisoners has not been resolved in the country. In the resolution the release of the imprisoned journalists is demanded.