"ZERKALO": AZERBAIJAN REMAINS TO BE NON-FREE COUNTRY
Ïðaâî Âûaîða, Azerbaijan
Democratic Azerbaijan
Sept 8 2006
Famous international organization Freedom House believes so September
7, famous international human right organization Freedom House
published list of the most repressive world countries. The list is
made up every year, reflecting the most dictatorship-oriented regimes.
"Turan" informs that accordingly to this list, Azerbaijan is mentioned
in the list of "non-free states" along with Cuba, Turkmenistan,
Uzbekistan, Belarus etc.
No doubt this news cannot be pleasant, not only for the purpose of
reminding us that the country we call our motherland is far from
being democratic, where human rights and civil freedoms are violated.
After all, human rights are violated even in the most democratic
states of the world or they are violated on the part of democratic
states. For instance, respective international organization "Human
Rights Watch" evaluated the US President, George Bush’s speech
advocating prohibited methods of treatment of detained terrorists
as violation of basic American and international norms. However,
the problem is that we stand on the same line with such "bastion"
of democracy as Cuba, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Belarus etc.
By the way violation of human rights on the part of USA isn’t
worth noting. Yes, USA grossly violates basic human rights but not
respecting its own citizens, neither on its own territory. Human
rights of citizens of foreign states are violated. And these rights
are violated on the territory of foreign states, not to violate laws
of USA. And we are not violating the rights of Armenians; we are
violating the rights of our own citizens.
Nevertheless we have to confess that we have been rightly defined as
"neighbor" of above "democracy bastion" countries. Let’s recall the
most recent facts.
September 7, Dashkesen city court has sentenced deputy chairman of
Democratic party, Natik Efendiyev, to 5 year of imprisonment for
illegal possession of weapon (clause 228.2, Criminal Code).
As advocate, Vugar Khasayev, informed "Turan", court didn’t accept
any application of defense, having refused to hear witnesses.
It should be reminded here that Natik Efendiyev was arrested October
16, 2005 and accused for attempt to commit coup d’etat. However,
court accused him in accordance with clause 228.2 only.
I should stress that I have no relation or sympathy to N. Efendiyev.
On the contrary, I learnt that being chief of police office in Gandja
in 90-s of last century, this former high-rank representative of law
enforcement authorities repeatedly violated basic human rights. No
doubt that soon N. Efendiyev will be in the list of "political
prisoners" of Council of Europe. N. Efendiyev used to be arrested
and accused by our "independent" courts, and as a consequence he was
mentioned in the list of political prisoners of Council of Europe.
Later, he was released following requirements of Council of Europe.
And our "independent" courts gave him opportunity to apply to
international courts concerning violation of his right "to just
court". In brief, our authorities themselves made N. Efendiyev constant
"client" of Council of Europe.
Yesterday representative of Office of Attorney-General declared
that it is not the time to speak of terms of presentation of "coup
d’etat organizers" case to court. It turned out that the case is
very complicated demanding investigation undertakings, including
international information exchange.
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