{"id":2300,"date":"2017-02-01T14:15:32","date_gmt":"2017-02-01T14:15:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/covcasbulletin.info\/?p=2300"},"modified":"2017-02-06T14:41:16","modified_gmt":"2017-02-06T14:41:16","slug":"joint-ngo-letter-to-european-council-president-juncker-regarding-azerbaijan-president-aliyevs-visit-to-brussels","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/covcasbulletin.info\/?p=2300","title":{"rendered":"Joint NGO Letter to European Council President Juncker Regarding Azerbaijan President Aliyev’s Visit to Brussels"},"content":{"rendered":"

Human Rights Watch<\/em><\/p>\n

Mr Donald Tusk<\/p>\n

President of the European Council
\nRue de la Loi 175
\n1048 Brussels<\/p>\n

Mr Jean-Claude Juncker<\/p>\n

President of the European Commission
\nRue de la Loi 200
\n1049 Brussels<\/p>\n

Ms Federica Mogherini<\/p>\n

High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy \/ Vice-President of the European Commission
\nRue de la Loi 200
\n1049 Brussels<\/p>\n

Mr Johannes Hahn<\/p>\n

Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy & Enlargement Negotiations
\nRue de la Loi 200
\n1049 Brussels<\/p>\n

February 1, 2017<\/p>\n

Dear President Tusk, President Juncker, High Representative \/ Vice-President Mogherini,<\/p>\n

We, the undersigned organizations, are writing in advance of Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev\u2019s upcoming visit to Brussels and meeting with you. We urge you to use this high-level visit to insist that President Aliyev commits to concrete, lasting human rights reforms in Azerbaijan. Insisting on such reforms would help ensure that the EU guides its engagement with Azerbaijan in a manner that honors Article 21 of the Lisbon Treaty, and the EU strategic framework and action plan on democracy and human rights, by fostering \u201cdemocracy, the rule of law, the universality and indivisibility of human rights and fundamental freedoms.\u201d<\/p>\n

President Aliyev\u2019s visit takes place following the EU Foreign Affairs Council\u2019s authorization of a mandate for negotiating a new partnership agreement between the EU and Azerbaijan. At the same time, the Azerbaijani government restricts the space for independent activism, critical journalism, and opposition political activity by imprisoning and harassing many activists, prominent human rights defenders, and journalists, as well as by adopting laws and regulations restricting the activities of independent groups and their ability to secure funding.<\/p>\n

The Azerbaijani authorities are sensitive to concerns from partners such as the EU, as demonstrated by their release of 17 human rights defenders, journalists, and political activists in 2016. Despite this, the authorities continue to keep many other government critics wrongfully imprisoned, and have arrested more political activists and bloggers throughout 2016 and 2017, underscoring that partners can only expect to see meaningful results if they have principled and consistent engagement and set clear benchmarks for sustained reform.<\/p>\n

Non-governmental organizations in Azerbaijan face serious obstacles to operating independently due to excessive legal and regulatory restrictions. Cabinet of Ministers regulations issued in January 2017, as part of the government\u2019s review of laws regulating NGOs and donors, offer limited prospect for fundamentally improving the operational environment for NGOs. Although the new regulations simplify some procedures for registration of foreign grants, they leave intact the large discretion of the authorities to arbitrarily deny their registration.<\/p>\n

Azerbaijan violates its human rights commitments to free speech, assembly and other protections, blatantly ignores the European Court of Human Rights judgment in the Ilgar Mammadov case and blocks all funding to independent civil society organizations by any EU institution. Deepening engagement with a government without securing concrete and sustainable human rights improvements sends a message that these issues are not of concern to the EU and could lead to further deterioration in human rights protection.<\/p>\n

In 2015 the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) downgraded Azerbaijan\u2019s status from \u2018member\u2019 to \u2018candidate,\u2019 due to the inability of civil society to adequately participate in EITI decision-making processes because of the country\u2019s severe restrictions on free speech and free association. In October 2016, after re-assessment, EITI chose not to reinstate Azerbaijan\u2019s status due to a lack of improvements. The Open Government Partnership voted in May 2016 to downgrade Azerbaijan\u2019s membership to \u201cinactive status,\u201d citing the authorities\u2019 arrests of activists, freezing of NGO bank accounts and restrictions on foreign funding, and other concerns.<\/p>\n

We urge the EU and its member states to secure tangible human rights improvements and changes from the government of Azerbaijan at the very outset of negotiations of the new partnership agreement. Any new partnership agreement signed with Azerbaijan should similarly include strong provisions committing the government to upholding universal human rights standards and securing lasting, meaningful human rights reforms.<\/p>\n

Doing otherwise would also seriously question the principles set out in the EU\u2019s founding principles and in the EU\u2019s Strategic Framework on Human Rights and Democracy, as well as the commitments enshrined in the EU Guidelines on Human Rights Defenders and the EU Human Rights Guidelines on Freedom of Expression Online and Offline.<\/p>\n

In light of this, in your upcoming meetings with President Aliyev, we urge you to insist on:<\/p>\n

The immediate and unconditional release of wrongfully imprisoned human rights defenders, journalists, civil society and political activists, first and foremost among them Ilgar Mammadov, a prominent opposition political activist. The government of Azerbaijan has ignored repeated demands from the Council of Europe\u2019s Committee of Ministers for Ilgar Mammadov\u2019s release, as part of the implementation of the 2014 European Court of Human Rights judgment in his case.
\nReform of laws and regulations governing nongovernmental organizations and their access to independent funding, in accordance with recommendations made by the Venice Commission and the corrective actions required by the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative;
\nImmediate and enforceable guarantees that the EU and its institutions are able to fund independent civil society organizations without undue hindrance;
\nAn end to politically-motivated prosecutions of human rights defenders, journalists, civil society and political activists;
\nThe quashing of convictions against human rights defenders, journalists, civil society and political activists who have been released, and the removal of ongoing restrictions on their freedom of movement;
\nReform of laws and regulations which restrict independent media and freedom of speech, including on the internet.<\/p>\n

We also call upon relevant European Union institutions to abide by their commitments to transparency, including ahead of and during the process of negotiating the new partnership agreement between the European Union and Azerbaijan. Transparency and public scrutiny are fundamental elements of good governance.<\/p>\n

We thank you for your attention and remain at your disposal for any further questions.<\/p>\n

Sincerely,<\/p>\n

Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum<\/p>\n

Front Line Defenders<\/p>\n

Human Rights House Foundation (HRHF)<\/p>\n

Human Rights Watch<\/p>\n

International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH).<\/p>\n

International Partnership for Human Rights (IPHR)<\/p>\n

Center for Civil Liberties, Ukraine<\/p>\n

Democracy and Human Rights Resource Center, Azerbaijan<\/p>\n

Election Monitoring and Democracy Studies Center (EMDS), Azerbaijan<\/p>\n

Human Rights Club, Azerbaijan<\/p>\n

Human Rights Information Center, Ukraine<\/p>\n

Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group, Ukraine<\/p>\n

Legal Education Society, Azerbaijan<\/p>\n

Public Association for Assistance to Free Economy, Azerbaijan<\/p>\n

NGOs members of the Civic Solidarity Platform:<\/p>\n

\u2022 ARTICLE 19, UK<\/p>\n

\u2022 Crude Accountability, United States<\/p>\n

\u2022 HRM Bir Duino, Kyrgyzstan<\/p>\n

\u2022 Human Rights Monitoring Institute, Lithuania<\/p>\n

\u2022 Centre for the Development of Democracy and Human Rights, Russia<\/p>\n

\u2022 Human Rights Center of Azerbaijan<\/p>\n

\u2022 Index on Censorship, United Kingdom<\/p>\n

\u2022 Institute for Reporters\u2019 Freedom and Safety (IRFS)<\/p>\n

\u2022 Kazakhstan International Bureau for Human Rights and Rule of Law<\/p>\n

\u2022 Macedonian Helsinki Committee<\/p>\n

\u2022 Moscow Helsinki Group<\/p>\n

\u2022 Norwegian Helsinki Committee<\/p>\n

\u2022 Office of civil freedoms, Tajikistan<\/p>\n

\u2022 Promo LEX, Moldova<\/p>\n

\u2022 Public Association \u201cDignity\u201d, Kazakhstan<\/p>\n

\u2022 Public Verdict, Russia<\/p>\n

\u2022 The Kosova Rehabilitation Centre for Torture Victims<\/p>\n

\u2022 The Netherlands Helsinki Committee<\/p>\n

\u2022 The World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), Switzerland<\/p>\n

\u2022 Ukraine Helsinki Human Rights Union and Analytical Center for Interethnic Cooperation and Consultations<\/p>\n

NGOs members of the Human Rights House Network:<\/p>\n

Barys Zvozskau Belarusian Human Rights House in exile, Vilnius (on behalf of the following NGOs):<\/p>\n

\u2022 Belarus Watch (ByWatch)<\/p>\n

\u2022 Belarusian Association of Journalists<\/p>\n

\u2022 Belarusian Helsinki Committee<\/p>\n

\u2022 City Public Association \u201cCentar Supolnasc\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2022 Human Rights Centre \u201cViasna\u201d<\/p>\n

Human Rights House Belgrade (on behalf of the following NGOs):<\/p>\n

\u2022 Belgrade Centre for Human Rights<\/p>\n

\u2022 Lawyers Committee for Human Rights YUCOM<\/p>\n

\u2022 Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Serbia<\/p>\n

Educational Human Rights House Chernihiv (on behalf of the following NGOs):<\/p>\n

\u2022 Ahalar<\/p>\n

\u2022 Civic Education Center \u201cAlmenda\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2022 Chernihiv Public Committee of Human Rights Protection<\/p>\n

\u2022 Local Non-governmental Youth organizations \u041c\u2019\u0410R\u0422<\/p>\n

\u2022 Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union<\/p>\n

Human Rights House Oslo (on behalf of the following NGOs):<\/p>\n

\u2022 Health and Human Rights Info<\/p>\n

\u2022 Human Rights House Foundation<\/p>\n

Human Rights House Tbilisi (on behalf of the following NGOs):<\/p>\n

\u2022 Article 42 of the Constitution<\/p>\n

\u2022 Caucasian Centre for Human Rights and Conflict Studies (CAUCASIA)<\/p>\n

\u2022 Georgian Centre for Psychosocial and Medical Rehabilitation of Torture Victims (GRCT)<\/p>\n

\u2022 Human Rights Centre (HRIDC)<\/p>\n

\u2022 Media Institute<\/p>\n

\u2022 Union Sapari<\/p>\n

Human Rights House Voronezh (on behalf of the following NGOs):<\/p>\n

\u2022 Charitable Foundation<\/p>\n

\u2022 Civic Initiatives Development Centre<\/p>\n

\u2022 Confederation of Free Labor<\/p>\n

\u2022 For Ecological and Social Justice<\/p>\n

\u2022 Free University<\/p>\n

\u2022 Golos<\/p>\n

\u2022 Interregional Trade Union of Literary Men<\/p>\n

\u2022 Lawyers for labor rights<\/p>\n

\u2022 Memorial<\/p>\n

\u2022 Ms. Olga Gnezdilova<\/p>\n

\u2022 Soldiers Mothers of Russia<\/p>\n

\u2022 Voronezh Journalist Club<\/p>\n

\u2022 Voronezh-Chernozemie<\/p>\n

\u2022 Youth Human Rights Movement<\/p>\n

Human Rights House Warsaw (on behalf of the following NGO):<\/p>\n

\u2022 Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights<\/p>\n

Human Rights House Zagreb (on behalf of the following NGOs):<\/p>\n

\u2022 APEO\/UPIM Association for Promotion of Equal Opportunities for People with Disabilities<\/p>\n

\u2022 B.a.B.e.<\/p>\n

\u2022 CMS – Centre for Peace Studies<\/p>\n

\u2022 Documenta – Centre for Dealing with the Past<\/p>\n

\u2022 GOLJP – Civic Committee for Human Rights<\/p>\n

\u2022 Svitanje – Association for Protection and Promotion of Mental Health<\/p>\n

CC:<\/p>\n

Head of Cabinet of the President of the European Council, Mr Piotr Serafin<\/p>\n

Chief Foreign Policy Advisor to the President of the European Council, Ms Riina Kionka<\/p>\n

Head of Cabinet of the President of the European Commission, Mr Martin Selmayr<\/p>\n

Diplomatic Adviser of the President of the European Commission, Mr Richard Szostak<\/p>\n

Secretary General for the European External Action Service (EEAS), Ms Helga Schmid<\/p>\n

Deputy Secretary General for the European External Action Service (EEAS), Mr Jean-Christophe Belliard<\/p>\n

Head of Cabinet of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy \/ Vice-President of the Commission, Ms Fabrizia Panzetti<\/p>\n

Chair of the EU\u2019s Political and Security Committee, Amb. Walter Stevens<\/p>\n

Ambassadors to the EU Political and Security Committee<\/p>\n

EU Special Representative for Human Rights, Mr Stavros Lambrinidis<\/p>\n

Managing Director for Europe and Central Asia, EEAS, Mr Thomas Mayr Harting<\/p>\n

Chair of the EU\u2019s Working Party on Eastern Europe and Central Asia (COEST), Ms Caroline Vinot<\/p>\n

Members of the EU\u2019s Working Party on Eastern Europe and Central Asia (COEST)<\/p>\n

Chair of the EU\u2019s Working Party on Human Rights (COHOM), Ms Ciara O\u2019Brien<\/p>\n

Members of the EU\u2019s Working Party on Human Rights (COHOM)<\/p>\n

Head of Cabinet of the Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy & Enlargement Negotiations, Mr Michael Karnitschnig<\/p>\n

Director General of DG Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations, Mr Christian Danielsson<\/p>\n

President of the European Parliament, Mr Antonio Tajani<\/p>\n

Vice-President of the European Parliament responsible for Democracy and Human Rights, Mr Alexander Graf Lambsdorff<\/p>\n

Chair of the European Parliament\u2019s Foreign Affairs Committee, Mr David McAllister<\/p>\n

Chair of the European Parliament\u2019s Subcommittee on Human Rights, Mr Pier Antonio Panzeri<\/p>\n

Chair of the European Parliament\u2019s Delegation to the EU-Armenia and EU-Azerbaijan Parliamentary Cooperation Committees and the EU-Georgia Parliamentary Association Committee, Mr Sajjad Karim<\/p>\n

Chair of the European Parliament\u2019s Delegation to the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly, Ms Heidi Hautala<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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