Activists criticize enforcement by Azerbaijani authorities of ECtHR's decisions

The practice of enforcing the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) suggests that the authorities will not rush to abolish the ban on leaving the country imposed on the Azerbaijani citizens who has won their cases at the ECtHR, oppositionists and human rights defenders believe.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on December 13, the ECtHR announced its decision on the cases of 11 Azerbaijani citizens who had been banned to leave the country.

The applicant Amina Gadjieva said that she was forbidden to leave the country in 2015 because of the criminal case against her brother, Djakhangir Gadjiev. "Because of this ban, I can't even take the inheritance of my deceased mother's apartment," Ms Gadjieva has stated.

One of the applicants, Azer Gasymly, the head of the Majlis of the "ReAl" (Real Alternative) Party, is satisfied with the decision of the ECtHR, but doubts whether it will be fulfilled.

"Many decisions of the ECtHR are either not fulfilled at all, or are fulfilled only in a few years. Because of the ban, I can't attend many important international events," said Mr Gasymly.

The Azeri authorities will not be in a hurry to enforce decision of the ECtHR, said Khalid Agaliev, a member of the Media Law Institute.

Let us note here that because of the failure to enforce the ECtHR's decisions on the case of Ilgar Mamedov, on December 5, 2017, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe initiated the proceedings against Azerbaijan.

The failure to fulfil the decisions of the ECtHR means that sanctions can be taken against Azerbaijan, in particular, the country's vote in the Council of Europe can be suspended, Rasul Djafarov, the head of the Human Rights Club, have stated.