Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 6
By Sabina Akhmedova - Trend:
Hearing of a report presented on the basis of the results of the visit of the co-rapporteurs Joseph Debono Grech and Pedro Agramunt to Azerbaijan in May this year took place in the Monitoring Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), PACE said Sept. 6.
The report emphasized the activities of law enforcement agencies of Azerbaijan, the human rights situation and the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
The co-rapporteurs noted that during their visit to Azerbaijan they witnessed the construction and reconstruction of buildings for courts and places of detention, and positively assessed the fact of the allocation of public funds to this area.
Referring to the Ministry of Justice of Azerbaijan, the co-rapporteurs pointed out that after the establishment of the Judicial Council (JC) in 2005 its powers expanded. Since 2000, wages in the judiciary system increased by 33 times. Some 60 percent of new judges were assigned and the process of their election was transparent. Citizens are satisfied with 90 percent of the decisions given by courts in civil matters. Administrative and economic courts operate in the country since 2001.
The co-rapporteurs also noted that some 1524 police officers were prosecuted during the past five years, criminal case were brought in respect of 16 of them, 100 were fired 97 reduced in rank, administrative measures have been taken against 196 police officers, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Addressing the theme of bribery, co-rapporteurs noted that a National plan of action is being implemented in this area. The report says that some 40 police officers were dismissed from their jobs for bribery.
The co-rapporteurs also expressed concern about human rights situation in Azerbaijan in their report.