Vladimir Putin? Alexander Lukashenka? These are the names we associate with 21st century European dictators and the worst violations of human rights. Ilham Aliyev, Azerbaijan’s President, is another leader in the region to add to the list. His government currently holds nearly 100 political prisoners. This is double the number in Russia and Belarus combined. To many he is a sinister menacing threat, growing richer by the month, who could bring war back to Caucasus.
The Council of Europe's human rights commissioner, Nils Muiznieks, criticised the Azerbaijani government for the "totally unacceptable" human rights situation which he said "flies in the face of the human rights obligations undertaken by Azerbaijan" as a member of the Council.
In Strasbourg this week there was an opportunity for members to voice their concerns. I said: “It is a great pleasure to speak in this debate. In my 17 years of membership of this Organisation, I do not think we have faced a bigger scandal as the one that faces us now. In that time, there have been some wonderful moments. I particularly treasure the times when small countries such as mine – Wales, whose people speak a unique language – have come to this body and made their presence felt in a very honourable way. I think particularly of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Georgia. We are, however, in a position where one country presides over this Assembly and disgraces our name. The report last month from our Commissioner for Human Rights spoke in the strongest possible terms about how Azerbaijan has persecuted, chased and humiliated those who are protesting against an oppressive Government. The last time we met, groups of people complained and demonstrated. They were in the public gallery and most of them are now in jail.
We find ourselves as the mouthpiece of human rights throughout this continent, but the country that is presiding over us is the most disgraceful perpetrator of human rights abuses. We have to look to our reputation. More rapporteurs will be appointed to look at the situation in Azerbaijan in future, and we should ensure that they all have clean hands and that none of them has been accused of being sympathetic to the regime or spokespeople for Azerbaijan. When we appoint rapporteurs, we should choose those who we know have an honourable record of defending human rights.
There is a great danger that the whole reputation of the Council of Europe will deteriorate. We have had a marvellous record down the years of fighting for the rights of people in many countries. I remember the brave stand of one of my colleagues on Chechnya. There are difficult years behind us, but we have always been led by countries that have had an illuminating view on the best of human rights. That is not the situation now. The presidency is disgracing the name of the Council of Europe. We want honourable members of this body to ensure that the breaches of human rights taking place in Azerbaijan are condemned by us.”
When I questioned President Aliyev earlier this year on his violation of human rights he lost his temper as he did with all challenging questioners. He accused me of lying. He added to his previous hyperbole of his country's immaculate human rights record by denying the charges. The deputy executive secretary of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party, Mubariz Gurbanly, says "there are no problems with human rights in Azerbaijan... Those, who talk about human rights violations in our country, are biased and try to blacken Azerbaijan's image”. Meanwhile Aliyev's vast oil wealth continues to seduce the world and convince us of his bottomless virtue. Observers of the conflict express fears that he may be planning military action. Our best hope to avoid bloodshed is to ensure the conflict remains in permafrost.
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