To return to PACE, Baku must fulfill  number of requirements -  rapporteur on Azerbaijan

ArmInfo.Negotiations are underway in the Committee of Ministers on the return of Azerbaijan to 

PACE. This was reported by PACE co-rapporteur on Azerbaijan, Norwegian MP  Lise Christoffersen.

"We want to see Azerbaijan in the Assembly, but for this the 

Azerbaijani authorities must make certain concessions and fulfil a 

number of requirements," Christoffersen said.  Asked about the 

concessions, Christoffersen said that "the Azerbaijani authorities 

must co-operate with the Assembly and create conditions for the 

co-rapporteurs to work in the country without hindrance, including 

prison visits. Azerbaijan must also fulfil its human rights 

obligations.

When the Co-Rapporteurs of the Monitoring Committee were in 

Azerbaijan from 3-7 June last year, they were not allowed to visit 

political prisoners.  Lise Cristoffersen pointed out that although 

the Minister of Justice of Azerbaijan promised that they would be 

given such an opportunity during their next visit, they were not 

allowed there again on 20-21 November last year.

The prohibition of the Monitoring Committee's co-rapporteurs to work 

freely in Azerbaijan and the non-admission of other PACE rapporteurs 

- Hannah Bardell and Paul Havana - to the country became the reason 

for depriving the Azerbaijani delegation of the right to vote at the 

January 2024 PACE session.

The ban on co-rapporteurs of the Monitoring Committee to work freely 

in Azerbaijan and the denial of access to the country for other PACE 

rapporteurs - Hannah Bardell l (United Kingdom, NR),  and Paul Gavan 

(Ireland, UEL), as well as aggression against Artsakh - became the 

reason for depriving the Azerbaijani delegation of voting rights at 

the January 2024 PACE session. Azerbaijan was deprived of the right 

to participate in the work of the Organization for a year.