28/03/2016 President
“The release of the human rights lawyer Intigam Aliyev, by the Azeri Supreme Court is a welcome judicial step,” said Pedro Agramunt, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). “This decision is important not just for Intigam Aliyev and his family but for the judiciary in Azerbaijan, which needs to be strengthened and needs to act with genuine independence.”
Mr Agramunt added, “This release follows closely on the heels of those of a large number of other prisoners, including many well-known journalists, political activists and civil society representatives, a little over a week ago. I hope this further judicial development will pave the way for strengthened cooperation between the Azeri authorities and the Council of Europe, in particular the implementation by the country of the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights, in conformity with the Committee of Ministers’ decisions. I also believe the Secretary General of the Council of Europe’s initiative under Article 52 of the Convention can be instrumental in helping the Azeri authorities find solutions to some of the outstanding problems.”
“I will continue my dialogue with the Azeri authorities on the case of political activist Ilgar Mammadov,” Mr Agramunt concluded.