Shaki sentences grotesque

On July 13 the British Ambassador Andrew Tucker chaired a roundtable meeting of local human rights NGOs at the Embassy. The participants discussed the human rights situation in Azerbaijan, its commitments to the Council of Europe and political prisoners. Many NGO representatives expressed their concerns about the new legislation on the establishment of an Ombudsman and non-governmental organizations' registration. The Ambassador said the Council of Europe would be watching closely how the new legislation was prepared. There should be an informed public debate and the new laws should be implemented in a positive spirit. The verdict of the Shaki trial, the Garabagh handicapped and Canmirza Mirzayev trials were also discussed. The Ambassador described the sentences in the Shaki trial as grotesque and disproportionate.