PACE HEAD CALLED AZERI AUTHORITIES TO IMMEDIATELY RELEASE ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS

President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Peter Shieder called the Azeri authorities to immediately release all political prisoners let languish in Azerbaijan. As the PACE head stated at a press conference in Strasbourg yesterday, “there can be no political prisoners in Council of Europe member countries, meanwhile, Azerbaijan refuses to set free people arrested due to political causes.” “Membership in our organization provides for respect to the CE criteria and does not entitle to continuing actions contrary to our basic values and principles,” – he said. At the same time P. Shieder stated that the Azeri party request to postpone discussion of the issue of political prisoners in Azerbaijan till the PACE January session is turned down. The request had been motivated by Baku with the coming presidential election in the country. The discussion of the issue will be held June 26, as planned before, the PACE leader emphasized.