U.S. State Department report not fully reflect human rights situation in Azerbaijan

U.S. State Department report does not fully reflect the situation of human rights in Azerbaijan, Azerbaijani Human Rights Commissioner Elmira Suleymanova said at a meeting with U.S. Charge d'Affaires in Azerbaijan Adam Sterling, the Ombudsman's apparatus told Trend on Thursday.

The purpose of the meeting is presentation of the annual report of the U.S. State Department on human rights in countries around the world and acquaintance with the newly appointed Second Secretary for Political Affairs of U.S. Embassy in Azerbaijan Jeff Kurgel.

Suleymanova informed the guest about the works done for the protection of human rights activities of the national preventive mechanism group, closely cooperation with government bodies, civil society, NGOs and international organizations.

Sterling noted that this report highly appreciated improvement of detention in prisons, building and upgrading of new institutions, the program against tuberculosis, carried out in prisons, as well as the activities of the Ombudsman's apparatus, the Council of State Support to NGOs, the work of Interior Ministry related to street children.

The Ombudsman has brought to the attention of the guest that the U.S. State Department report was prepared in a very sharp form.

She said the report has distortions, and it does not fully reflect the situation of human rights in the country.

Suleymanova noted that after the translation of a report into the Azerbaijani language it will be reviewed, and if there is a critique corresponding reality it will be taken into account.