Azerbaijan needs more freedom of speech, more lawyers and more jobs for refugees

“Freedom of expression in Azerbaijan continues to be under threat” said Dunja Mijatović, Commissioner for Human Rights, at the end of a four-day visit to Azerbaijan. Recalling the European Court of Human Rights’ judgments stressing a troubling pattern of arbitrary arrest and detention of government critics, civil society activists and human rights defenders through retaliatory prosecutions and misuse of criminal law in defiance of the rule of law, the Commissioner highlighted that “releasing all persons who are in detention because of the views they expressed should remain a priority.” She also reiterated her call to decriminalise defamation. More...