Saida Gojamanly: "Members of the Public Council of Human Rights endanger the activity of PACE co-rapporteur on Azerbaijan Eugenia Zhivkova"

The due announcement was made by Saida Gojamanly, representative of the Monitoring Committee of human rights organizations of Azerbaijan and member of the parliamentary work group on problems of political prisoners.

She said the council has a certain purpose.

"As we know, a large international conference, arranged by structures, included into this Council, was held in Baku in April. The conference was held to prove and show to the Council of Europe that all lists of political prisoners are false and there are no political prisoners in Azerbaijan. They tried to prove that Azerbaijani human rights activists try to make a sensation for international organizations by making this list", said she.

She noted that the monitoring group can not be replaced as international organizations trust it.

"We felt repeatedly especially after the December act of pardoning, that authorities want to replace our work group. Yet this did not occur as we closely cooperate with the PACE co-rapporteurs on Azerbaijan, currently these are Andres Herkel and Eugenia Zhivkova. It is not possible to replace us as we have a large experience and influence not only in Azerbaijan but also among international organizations. We are trusted in the world and this is more important as world trusts the information we provide", said she.

She noted that people inside the country also believed in the ability of the monitoring committee to settle problems.

"We have already proven that we work for Azerbaijan, so that not to let the problems, which can be settled inside the country, to go beyond the limits of the state. Sometimes we fail to do it. But as the first steps have already been done, we think this will continue. WE will stay and continue working".

According to her, the Council of Europe and PACE co-rapporteurs and CE Commissioner on Human Rights and other important CE structures on problems of political prisoners work on the list of the monitoring group of human rights organizations of Azerbaijan.

"But there has been an information that one of the PACE co-rapporteurs, Zhivkova, will support the new Council and assist them in their activity. I think the information is too incorrect and endanger the activity of Zhivkova. Anyway, she should be unbiased and the members of the public council endanger her activity in Azerbaijan.

During our visit to Strasbourg we met with the co-rapporteur and spoke with her about this problem and by the way both she and we voiced deep concern about the state of sick prisoners, primarily Rasim Akperov and imprisoned reporters, who are still in jail. Therefore, I think it is not serious for Zhivkova to apply double standards in this case".

She said the unification of the two groups will never be possible, as they come out from different positions.

"Tense work is expected with CE commissioner on human rights Tomas Hammerberg and co-rapporteurs, who will be visiting Baku in May. This is a serious preparation for the PACE June session. I think, the visit of CE representatives to Baku is a new signal for powers. as the problem of journalists and political prisoners should be settled until the June session for Azerbaijan to say with pride: "You see, Azerbaijan is able to settle its internal problems", which is what our work group currently dealing with", said Gojamanly.

/Day.Az/