The Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) issued a public statement today regarding Azerbaijan. The statement addresses the Azerbaijani authorities’ refusal to cooperate with the CPT, which is an exception because the Council of Europe rarely issues public statements.
“Today, @CoE_CPT takes the exceptional step to issue a Public Statement on #Azerbaijan due to the outright refusal of the authorities 🇦🇿 to cooperate, especially in ending the systemic and endemic ill-treatment and #torture of persons in police custody,” Therese Maria Rytter, Legal Director of DIGNITY International and CoE_CTP Vice-President posted on X.
The statement highlights the lack of cooperation by the Azerbaijani authorities with the CPT. The Committee has made efforts to engage in a constructive dialogue with the Azerbaijani authorities to address issues related to ill-treatment and torture by law enforcement officials. Despite receiving no responses from the Azerbaijani authorities, the CPT remains committed to pursuing a dialogue to uphold fundamental values.
The CPT has also taken the decision to enhance transparency and accountability by publishing the report on the 2022 ad hoc visit to Azerbaijan as an annexe to the public statement.
The Committee hopes that the lack of cooperation does not permanently damage relations with the Azerbaijani authorities and stands ready to support the authorities in upholding the values of the Council of Europe.
According to Article 10 (2) of the Convention, “If the Party fails to cooperate or refuses to improve the situation in the light of the Committee’s recommendations, the Committee may decide, after the Party has had an opportunity to make known its views, by a majority of two-thirds of its members to make a public statement on the matter.”
Reports from Azerbaijani human rights organisations indicate a worsening situation. The number of people jailed on politically motivated charges has doubled compared to the previous year, totalling more than 230 individuals. Additionally, a new restrictive media law adopted in 2022 mandates that media outlets register with the authorities.
