US GOV’T CRITICIZES AZERI, ARMENIAN RIGHTS RECORDS

AzerNews Weekly
March 4 2009
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan`s human rights record was poor in 2008 and even worsened
in some areas, the US State Department claimed in its annual report
on human rights throughout the world.

The right of citizens to a peaceful transfer of power in the ex-Soviet
state was restricted during the October presidential elections,
according to the 2008 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices.

It maintained further that freedom of assembly and religious freedoms
were violated, while the media faced pressure in the South Caucasus
republic last year. Moreover, there were instances of beatings and
torture while in police custody, with three such cases resulting
in deaths, while the conditions of detention were challenging, and
politically motivated arrests continued, according to the report.

It also said corruption is widespread in Azerbaijani courts and law
enforcement agencies.

The State Department said violence against women, human trafficking,
sexual exploitation and forced labor remained problems in the country,
as well.

However, the State Department said the worst situation with human
rights among the South Caucasus republics was observed in Armenia
last year. The March 2008 post-election developments in the country
were the worst outburst of violence in the region in recent years.

Thus, the report cited a considerable decline in Armenia`s record on
democratic development. It indicated that the disputed presidential
election in February was followed by weeks of mostly peaceful
protests. However, authorities used force on March 1-2 to break up
demonstrators in a tide of clashes that left 10 people dead.

The 20-day state of emergency announced after the protests was
marred by outbursts of violence, pressure on independent media and
violations of civil liberties by Armenian authorities. Throughout
the year, authorities imposed restrictions on citizens` rights to
assemble peacefully and to freely express their political views,
said the report.

It further said that by the end of 2008, 59 opposition activists
remained jailed, but government officials who could have been
implicated in election-related crimes did not face any scrutiny.

Also, the US government said China blatantly trampled on human rights
last year. The report accused the country of harassing dissidents
and increasing its repression of ethnic minorities.

Among the other countries criticized were Russia and North Korea.
From: Baghdasarian