Ago group visiting Azerbaijan - UPDATED

17:56

Members of CoE Ago group visiting Azerbaijan met with media representatives.

Aflatun Amashev, chairman of Azerbaijan's Press Council told APA that the group members discussed the situation with freedom of press and speech in the country.

The meeting participants exchanged views regarding the starving reporters.

Amashev noted that a concept on improvement of situation in connection with press has been worked out in Azerbaijan.

"We have also informed the visitors about the claims we have", he noted.

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16:18

Members of CoE Ago group visiting Azerbaijan continue their meetings in Baku, head of the group Pierre Siergen, told reporters.

He noted that the Ago group met with human rights activists and chairmen of opposition parties.

He also added that the meeting participants discussed the situation with human rights, freedom of speech in the country and political situation before presidential elections.

On April 4, the group members will meet with imprisoned reporters.

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13:30

The Ago group representatives met with Azerbaijani human rights activists Leyla Yunus, Arzu Abdullayev and Elchin Behbudov, as reported by Leyla Yunus, head of the Instute of Peace and Democracy.

CoE Ago group representatives discussed tortures in local jails, absence of independent judicial system in the country, violation of constitutional rights of citizens.

"We have already touched upon the violation of freedom of speech and assembly in our country, pressure, put on reporters and others", Yunus noted.

She said the group representatives will meet with starving reporters tomorrow.

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12:55

Ago group representatives have met with leaders of Azerbaijani opposition today.

The due announcement was made by chairman of Azerbaijan's Democratic Party Sardar Jalaloghlu.

He said during the meeting the sides discussed political situation in the country before presidential elections, considered activity of political parties and situation with press and protesting reporters.

The meeting was attended by Ali Kerimli, chairman of Azerbaijan's Popular Front Party, Eldar Namazov, head of Public Forum "For Azerbaijan", Isa Gambar, chairman of Musavat party and Igbal Aghazade, chairman of Umid party.

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12:12

The group will attend a regular session of the work group on problems of political prisoners to be held in Milli Medjlis today.

The due announcement was made by human rights activist Saida Dojamanly, according to Novosti-Azerbaijan.

"The meeting participants will discuss Azerbaijan's adherence to commitments, undertaken before the Council of Europe. Special attention will be paid to the situation around imprisoned reporters, some of whom are currently on hunger strike, political prisoners, results of the recent pardoning decree, as well as the appointment of the CoE special rapporteur on political prisoners in Azerbaijan", Gojamanly noted,

It should be added that the CoE delegation led by Per Siogren, head of the Ago monitoring mission of the CoE Committee of Ministers, arrived in Baku yesterday night.

The delegation includes representatives of France, Germany, Lithuania, Romania, Switzerland, Georgia, Austria and Russia. The visit will last until April 4.

The visit envisions meetings of Ago group with representatives of politicial parties, NGOs, mass media, deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov and other state officials. A press conference will be held by results of the visit.

Upon the completion of the visit, the group will prepare a report to be presented to the CoE Committee of Ministers.

/Day.Az/