Azerbaijan, Baku / corr Trend A.Gasimova / Thomas Hammerberg, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights has begun meetings in Baku with representatives from non-governmental organizations.
After a meeting with Hammerberg an Azerbaijani law-defender, Saida Gojamanli, said that they discussed the issue of political prisoners and convicted journalists. Azerbaijani law-defenders voiced their concerns on the physical state of two convicted journalists - editor-in-chief of Realniy Azerbaijan and Gundalik Azerbaijan, Eynulla Fatullayev and employee of Nota Bene, Faramaz Novruzoglu and advised the Commissioner for Human Rights.
During the visit to last until 8 September Hammerberg plans to meet with the President and ministers of Azerbaijan, judges, representatives from non-governmental organizations and the media. The CE Commissioner will tour the regions and prisons.