Saida Gojamanli: "Azerbaijani human rights defenders achieved their goal in Council of Europe"

Saida Gojamanli, chief of the bureau of defense of human rights and legislation told the APA that the rights defenders achieved their goal.

"We told the PACE members that we are satisfied with the co-rapporteurs' report and gave our proposals. Our proposals on formation of election commissions on parity, independent operation of Public Television, trial of former health minister Ali Insanov, arrest of parliamentarian Huseyn Abdullaev, release of sick prisoners, commuting lifers' sentence to 15-year imprisonment were reflected in PACE resolution," she said.

Saida Gojamanli said that their lobbyist activity with regard to the Nagorno Karabakh was also a success.

"The points on Nagorno Karabakh in the resolution adopted about Azerbaijan remained unchanged despite Armenian delegation. Taking into account the Karabakh problem, we did not raise the issue on political prisoners. We consider that the problem can be solved within the working group on human rights," she said.

Human rights defenders Chingiz Ganizade, Saida Gojamanli, Saadat Bananyarli, Novella Jafaroglu, Arzu Abdullayeva and Eldar Zeynalov had meetings with Secretary of the Council of Europe Venice Commission Giovanni Buquicchio, former PACE co-rapporteur on Azerbaijan Andreas Gross, co-rapporteurs Andres Herkel and Tony Lloyd.