“Khadija Ismayilova is one the long-standing partners of the Council of Europe. I met her in my office in Strasbourg during the Assembly’s last part session and I was shocked by the information she provided to me regarding pressure and intimidation exercised against her, as well as other human rights defenders in Azerbaijan. Taking into account the recent arrests of prominent human rights defenders – many of whom are valuable partners of the Council of Europe – I have to express my deep concern at her arrest.
As a member state of the Council of Europe, Azerbaijan must respect the standards of the European Convention on Human Rights. Therefore, I urge the competent authorities of Azerbaijan to ensure that the standards of the Convention are respected in any judicial and legal proceedings against Ms Ismayilova as well as against other human rights activists”, declared President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe .
See also:
The Secretary General of the Council of Europe called for the immediate release of Khadija Ismayilova
Azerbaijan and the Council of Europe