ALDE-PACE News
Suppression of peaceful protest rallies in Azerbaijan
24.05.2012 While Europe's eyes are fixed on Azerbaijan holding the famous international Eurovision song contest, liberals cannot disregard the worrying reports on the human rights situation in the country.
On 21 May, according to human rights defenders and media, two peaceful demonstrations were violently dispersed by the police in Baku. The observers report that protesters were beaten, transported outside the city and then released. In the run-up to the Eurovision, this is yet another case of denial of freedom of assembly in the country: on 14 and 24 May similar attempts to hold protest rallies demanding the release of alleged political prisoners and respect for freedom of assembly was suppressed. Regretfully, this is not the first time that serious human rights violations are reported from Azerbaijan.
"The cultural value of hosting a prestigious international song competition must not be a justification for police violence or restriction of civil rights. Azerbaijani authorities must do their utmost to refrain from suppressing peaceful demonstrations, to investigate all allegations of ill-treatment of protesters and to fully respect the obligations that Azerbaijan undertook to respect as a Council of Europe member state, including the standards of freedom of assembly and speech," said Anne Brasseur, President of ALDE.
Added on 24-05-2012
More News
ALDE's Newsletter is now available
Roman Jakic appointed Minister
Press release on the decision to close the Magnitsky case
Attacks against Yabloko raise concerns
PACE Bureau and Standing Committee met in Andorra, 29-30 November 2012
European Liberals Congress in Dublin
Dick Marty will receive 2013 LI Prize for Freedom
Anne Brasseur condemns the detention of IFLRY activists in Belarus
Education reform and demographic change in Moldova in the context of European integration
Restrictions on freedom of assembly in Russia upset European liberals
Liberal politician awarded local democracy prize
Suppression of peaceful protest rallies in Azerbaijan
Reinforcing liberal partnership: Anne Brasseur attended ELDR Council Meeting
ALDE discussed the situation in Russia
Travel bans on Belarusian civil society and opposition
Anne Brasseur addressed LI Executive Committee
Marieluise Beck: "Putin is president of a managed democracy - the voters had no choice"
Tina Acketoft elected Chairperson of the new PACE Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination
ALDE statement on the situation in Russia
Controversial constitutional reform in Hungary: ALDE calls on taking measures
Anne Brasseur congratulated new President of ELDR
President of ALDE reacted to Tymoshenko sentence
Defending Human Rights in Belarus
ALDE condemns terrorist attacks in Norway
Refusal to register the People's Freedom Party (Russia)
Acquittal of prominent human rights lawyer Oleg Orlov
ALDE held an extra-ordinary discussion on the situation in Belarus
Responsibility to protect: the role of parliamentarians
PACE to observe early presidential elections in Kazakhstan
Prospects and challenges for modernisation of Russia
Changes in the Bureau of the ALDE
Changes in the PACE committees
PACE calls for serious and independent investigation based on Dick Marty's report