Gezamenlijke EU-verklaring over Azerbeidzjan
Nederland maakt zich samen met de andere EU-lidstaten zorgen over de mensenrechtensituatie in Azerbeidzjan. De EU heeft de volgende verklaring uitgegeven naar aanleiding van de arrestatie van Natiq Jafarli van oppositiebeweging Republican Alternative (REAL). Deze verklaring is alleen in het Engels beschikbaar.
The arrest of Natiq Jafarli, the Executive Secretary of the REAL party in Azerbaijan, comes just 6 weeks ahead of the referendum on constitutional amendments that his party opposes and campaigns against. His arrest and placement into pre-trial detention of 4 months come on top of worrying reports of additional arrests of people involved in campaigning.
In the constitutional referendum of 26 September, the people of Azerbaijan are due to vote on changes to the legal framework for the political administration of the country. The debate leading to it should be inclusive and pluralistic. Seeking an opinion on the changes by expert institutions, such as the Venice Commission, is also crucial.