CoE commissioner for human rights should ensure protection of Azerbaijani refugees’ rights

Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov.25 By Seba Aghayeva – Trend: During the latest visit of Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Nils Muiznieks to Azerbaijan, all conditions were created to hold meetings at various levels, however, he didn’t fully use this opportunity, acting spokesperson of Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Hikmet Hajiyev told Trend on Nov.25. He was commenting on the statement of Muiznieks on Azerbaijan. Hajiyev said that each of the persons named by the commissioner are charged with concrete criminal offenses. “Alongside with other charges, Leyla Yunusova is also charged with treason. The charges brought against Anar Mammadli on which the court has already issued a decision, are related to tax evasion,” said Hajiyev. The acting spokesperson added that although the interference in the work of the judicial system is the violation of the fundamental principle of the Council of Europe about the rule of law, Muiznieks was given opportunity to meet with the persons under investigation. “Under the mandate of the Council of Europe commissioner for human rights, Muiznieks should ensure the protection of over a million Azerbaijani refugees and IDPs, who have been deprived of their fundamental rights envisaged in the European Convention on Human Rights,” Hajiyev said. He said the Article 1 of the European Convention on Human Rights envisages the obligation to respect human rights and the Article 2 states that everyone has the right to life. “We expect that Muiznieks will put pressure on Armenia under the mandate and demand it to return the Azerbaijani refugees and IDPs to their native lands,” Hajiyev added. Follow us on Twitter @TRENDNewsAgency