CoE calls Azerbaijan to put an end to anti-Armenian rhetoric

Yerevan /Mediamax/. The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) of the Council of Europe expressed concerns over continuous hateful rhetoric against Armenians in Azerbaijan in the report published today.

“Political leaders, educational institutions and media have continued using hate speech against Armenians; an entire generation of Azerbaijanis has now grown up listening to this hateful rhetoric. Human rights activists working inter alia towards reconciliation with Armenia have been sentenced to heavy prison terms,” states the CoE Commission report.

The authors of the report noticed that the pardon, release and promotion in 2012 of Ramil Safarov, who had been sentenced in Budapest to life imprisonment for the murder of an Armenian army officer, contributes to a sense of impunity for the perpetrators of racist crime.

The CoE Commission recommended Azerbaijani authorities to put an end to the constant use of hate speech, and rather promote mutual understanding and confidence.