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US Diplomat Considers Azerbaijani Courts are Not Independent

Society Materials 13 November 2007 11:52 (UTC +04:00)

Azerbaijan, Baku / Т corr K. Zarbaliyeva / Corruption still remains a serious problem in Azerbaijani courts, and they cannot be called independent, the US Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Anne Derse said when speaking at a training course for judge candidates on 12 November.

"Azerbaijani citizens say criminal cases are mostly resolved not by law but the status, position and wealth of those involved in the trial are all considered," she said.

According to Derse, urgent measures should be implemented in order to provide the UN Bangalore principles on independence and objectivity in courts, equality of trial sides and court ethics.

Property and status documents of all judges should be checked, open public trials should be examined, legislative basis should be renewed, special regulations should be coined and implemented in order to enable fair decision making and timely execution of decisions, as well as to prevent abuse of power in courts, Derse said.

Derse recommended that Azerbaijani judges remember they are serving the law and to avoid outside influences in decision making.

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