Today.Az » Politics » Andreas Herkel: "A special rapporteur should deal with political prisoners in Azerbaijan"
10 October 2006 [19:55] - Today.Az
"There are some problems with holding the polls but few problems with the election law. It is possible to hold good elections through bad law and vice-versa," PACE Monitoring Committee rapporteur for Azerbaijan Andreas Herkel stated.
He thinks that the Election Code should be amended. He also touched upon the commitments on media right, freedom of assembly and equal voting rights. "Commitments Azerbaijan took upon itself and the situation with the political prisoners are not simple", he told APA. He said he will discuss the issues with PACE co- rapporteur Tony Lloyd during their visit to Baku on October 29. They will meet with presidential administration, MPs, ministers, journalists and prisoners. He expressed his concern about journalists - Bahaddin Haziyev and Sakit Zahidov.
He thinks that a special rapporteur should deal with the problem. Her also said the justice system needs reforms and it is not independent now. "The number of the judges is not as much as European countries'. The number has increased recently but their activities don't meet the standard."
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