PACE declines German MP’s report

125 members of the PACE have voted against the report on political convicts in Azerbaijan composed by German MP Christopher Strasser and 79 for, News Azerbaijan reports.

The document said that the problem of political convicts had not been resolved, despite resolutions N1359 (2004) and N1457 (2005) and recommendation N1711 (2005).

Samed Seidov, PACE Vice President and head of the Azerbaijani delegation, denied accusations.

Russian MP Boris Spiegel said that stressing attention on countries of the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe was a policy of dual standards, because problems in western states were neglected. Vyacheslav Fetisov, deputy head of the Russian delegation to the PACE and senator, reminded that Russia and Azerbaijan had good experience in consolidated work in international organizations.

French MP Jean Mary Bokel said that called the report incomplete. Rennes Ruke noted the unresolved Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

The PACE recommended Azerbaijan to improve its electoral system according to recommendations of the OSCE ODIHR and the Venice Commission, lift obstacles of NGO work, simplify procedures of registering international NGOs.