Azerbaijan must respect human rights, Scholz tells AliyevApril 27, 2024 - 13:34 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Following a meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Berlin, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called for greater respect for human rights in the country, DPA reports. "The German government is committed to upholding human rights worldwide, and that also applies to Azerbaijan," Scholz said at a joint press conference with Aliyev on Friday in response to a question from journalists. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs), human rights defenders and the media must be able to work "freely and without pressure" in the country, he said. Scholz said he discussed the general situation in Azerbaijan with Aliyev and also raised individual cases. "Of course, it is also no secret that we see a need for improvement, to put it that way," Scholz said. Aliyev rejected the criticism, saying that human rights and media freedom are respected in his country, according to an official translation. "There is no censorship in Azerbaijan. There is free internet in Azerbaijan. There are hundreds of media outlets in Azerbaijan," he said. Accusing his country of restricting media freedom is unfounded and unfair, Aliyev said. Aliyev has been the authoritarian leader of Azerbaijan for more than 20 years, and was last re-elected in a controversial February election in which he officially received more than 90% of the vote. The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OCSE) has criticized increasing restrictions on freedom of assembly and expression in the country. Numerous independent journalists are in prison, including Imram Aliyev, a reporter who worked as a freelancer for German public broadcaster ZDF. Members of the German parliament's human rights committee issued a joint statement demanding the release of more than 300 political prisoners in Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan is scheduled to host the next UN Climate Change Conference in November. Aliyev's visit to Berlin was in part to join the Petersberg Climate Dialogue, which is being hosted by the German Foreign Office. Photo. Reuters Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Court in Azerbaijan extends former Karabakh leader’s arrest by 5 months The Binagadi District Court in Azerbaijan has granted the prosecutor’s petition to extend the arrest of Arkady Ghukasyan. Ucom General Director joins High-Tech Development Panel Discussion The discussion was titled "The Role of International Corporations and Investors as Catalysts for Development of High-Tech Ecosystem." U.S. still believes “peace is possible” between Armenia, Azerbaijan The United States continues to believe that peace is possible between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Vedant Patel says. Dozens detained as antigovernment protest continue in Armenia At least 63 people demanding Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s resignation were detained on May 14 as they blocked streets in Yerevan. |