Brussels, 20/03/2014 (Agence Europe) - On 20 March, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton and Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Stefan Füle called on Azerbaijan to do more on the independence of the judiciary at a time when political opponents have recently been sentenced to prison.
Ashton and Fule learned “with concern” about the long term prison sentences of opposition politicians Ilgar Mammadov and Tofiq Yaqublu “despite serious misgivings on the part of the international community over the fairness of their trials”, said Ashton and Füle's spokespersons in a press release. Ashton and Füle therefore noted with regret that “the verdicts against Mr Mammadov and Mr Yaqublu appear politically motivated”, contrary to Azerbaijan's international commitments as a member of the Council of Europe. Ashton and Füle recalled that Azerbaijan is the upcoming chair of the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers from May.
On 17 March, the leader of the Republican Alternative movement, Ilgar Mammadov, was sentenced to seven years in prison and the journalist and vice-president of the Musavat Party was sentenced to five years in prison for “the organisation of mass trouble”. They are accused of staging riots in Ismayili. In January 2013, thousands of Ismayili inhabitants organised a protest rally, then burned the house of the local governor. (CG)