Rights Group to Council of Europe: Azerbaijan Admission a Mistake

Human Rights Watch today urged the Council of Europe not to vote to admit Azerbaijan as one of its members. The group cited fraud in Sunday's parliamentary elections as evidence that Azerbaijan has not made adequate progress on human rights and democratization to meet Council of Europe criteria.

For years Azerbaijan has had a poor record on human rights and the rule of law. Sunday's vote drives home the message that accession is premature. If the vote goes forward notwithstanding the fraud, it could seriously damage the Council's reputation. Rachel Denber   Acting Director, Europe and Central Asia Division   Human Rights Watch

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Human Rights Watch researchers observed the election in Nakhichevan, in southern Azerbaijan. They witnessed extensive ballot-box stuffing, multiple voting, and the preparation of falsified ballot papers by members of a precinct electoral commission. In addition, in two precincts observed by Human Rights Watch, local electoral commissions ejected their mandated opposition party members; commission members in one precinct tried to eject Human Rights Watch observers before beginning the vote count.  
The Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers was to vote on November 9, following a June Parliamentary Assembly vote recommending accession. The Council of Europe was clearly waiting for the parliamentary elections to decide Azerbaijan's progress on the rule of law.  
 
"For years Azerbaijan has had a poor record on human rights and the rule of law," said Rachel Denber, acting executive director of Human Rights Watch's Europe and Central Asia division. "Sunday's vote drives home the message that accession is premature. If the vote goes forward notwithstanding the fraud, it could seriously damage the Council's reputation."  
 
The Human Rights Watch research team monitoring conditions surrounding the elections also documented government interference and intimidation in pre-election processes, mainly with regard to candidate registration. A backgrounder on this election may be viewed at Human Rights Watch's website at http://www.hrw.org/backgrounder/eca/azer-election-bck.htm.  
 
Should the Council of Europe go forward with tomorrow's vote, Human Rights Watch urged that it develop a timetable for concrete reforms, linked to the possibility of suspension of the newly gained rights if these targets are not met