Brussels, 17/04/2015 (Agence Europe) - During the evening of Thursday 16 April, the European Union criticised the six and a half year custodial sentence imposed by an Azerbaijan court on Rasul Jafarov, “a well-known human rights defender and respected partner of international donors”. Jafarov was arrested on 2 August on charges that included illegal entrepreneurship, tax evasion and the abuse of power.
His sentencing “appears harsh and disproportionate to the alleged offences on which it is based”, said the spokesperson for High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini in a press release. “Procedural shortcomings, witnessed by international monitors during the trial of Mr Jafarov, raise concerns about due legal processes”, Mogherini's spokesperson added.
“We look to the authorities in Azerbaijan to ensure that Rasul Jafarov is given the opportunity to appeal this verdict in a fair and unbiased process”, the spokesperson stated.
The EU also called on Azerbaijan to abide by its international commitments and to establish greater trust in the independence and professionalism of its judicial system. (Camille-Cerise Gessant)