ASSA-Irada,
14, March 2008

The Azerbaijani government has tersely reacted to the US State Department's annual report criticizing the country's human rights record.

"Azerbaijan does not agree with the United States' criticism," says a statement issued by the head of the President's Office socio-political department, Ali Hasanov.

The State Department claimed that the government's human rights record remained poor in 2007. It said the public's right to peacefully change the national legislature was restricted in the 2005 parliamentary elections, although there were some improvements in the period leading up to the elections. Police acted with impunity and courts were under the clout of executive authorities. The government continued to imprison persons for politically motivated reasons. Restrictions on freedom of assembly continued, according to the Country Reports on Human Rights Practices released by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor on Tuesday.

Hasanov indicated that along with citing constructive criticism, the report had failed to note the country's achievements, while data from sources whose impartiality is dubious was used and a number of facts distorted.

"The Azerbaijani government has repeatedly stated its commitment to the ideals of human rights protection, has proven this commitment in practice every time and continues to do so," the statement said. "We note that some statements by government officials were misinterpreted or reflected inaccurately, and that most of the views and discontent expressed in the report stemmed from poor awareness and failure to drastically research issues in this area."

Hasanov said that substantial work has been done in recent years in Azerbaijan to bolster democracy, protect human rights and comprehensively develop human potential. One of the reasons for Baku's discontent was the fact that the report had no reference to the blatant violation of the basic rights of a million refugees displaced as a result of the Armenian aggression, which adversely affects the overall situation with human rights.

"Given that the [United States'] reaction to the developments in Armenia was not harsh enough, we consider the biased and critical approach toward Azerbaijan as an indicator of double standards," according to the presidential administration official.

Thousands of demonstrators protested in the capital Yerevan for 10 days after the country's February 19 presidential poll that they said was rigged. The protests were marred by heavy clashes with law enforcers.

US ambassador to Azerbaijan Anne Derse said in a meeting with local rights champions on Wednesday that she hoped the State Department's assessment would be deemed as constructive criticism, as the "friends tell the truth" saying goes.