Azerbaijan, Baku, Jan. 15/ Trend , J. Babayeva/
The Azerbaijani government says Freedom House's assessments in its latest report are biased. The U.S. non-governmental organization conducts research and advocacy on democracy, political freedom and human rights.
"Unfortunately, assessments about Azerbaijan are based on the biased views of Freedom House experts," head of the Azerbaijani Presidential Administration's Political and Social Department Ali Hasanov told Trend on Jan. 15. "The report resembles statements made by so-called human right activists and opposition."
Freedom House described Azerbaijan as a non-free country in its annual worldwide democracy report.
Azerbaijan's occupied Nagorno-Karabakh region was described as a partially free region and Armenia as a partially free country.
Hasanov said the government informed Freedom House about its opinion of the report.
"The assessment of Azerbaijan's socio-political and domestic life compared to neighboring countries and separatist regimes is totally biased," he said.
He said the assessments of Nagorno-Karabakh as a free regime and Armenia as a partially free country are untrue.
"Both we and international organizations are aware of how Armenia conducted its presidential election, as well as the country's human rights and media-freedom record and public administration," Hasanov said.
"Most international organizations give Azerbaijan a high rating," he said. "Some, including Freedom House, are influenced by the political views of others. Azerbaijan is a leader in the South Caucasus. Our president pursues a totally independent policy. His policy is based on the interests of the people."
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