525-ci Qazet, 26 March 2005

Today the ombudsman Elmira Suleymanova reported to the Milli Mejlis (Parliament) on her activities in 2004. She told that in 2004 the Ombudsman office received 6,300 claims from citizens of the country, by 70% more than in 2003. She focused attention on the facts of violations of the rights and restriction of the freedom of people in the places of detention , while issues of passports, allocation of lands, while crossing frontiers. She told that one of the reasons of such situation is that people do not know the laws. The number of claims on corruption on the part of the officials has increased considerably. "Bribery has turned into norm of life of officials, therefor it is necessary to adopt the Code on behavior of state officials" Suleymanova said.

Joint commission with OSCE and group of quick reacting has been created for fixing the situation in the places of detention. The raids made by this group revealed numerous violations: ill treatment with prisoners, accused and their relatives, she said. After relevant appeals the heads of the colonies NN 11 and 14 were dismissed from their posts for such violations, Suleymanova said.

Concerning human rights in the regions of the country, there is tyranny on the part of local officials. Most of all the claim came from Sheki, Ganca, Barda, Imishli and other regions. Suleymanova drew attention of deputies to the facts of violation of human rights in the private sector: illegal interference into the business activity and violation of human rights while buying lands.

"We cannot state that freedom of speech has been absolutely guaranteed in Azerbaijan", stated ombudsman Elmira Suleymanova addressing today in the Milli Mejlis. There are still facts of "financial oppression of newspapers". Besides, the fact of killing of the editor of "Monitor" newspaper Elmar Mamedov cannot be treated as the death of one man. It is strike on the image of the country, on freedom of speech and expression and social-political stability, ombudsman said.