Activists in Baku doubt efficiency of CoE's policy towards Azerbaijan

The new action plan of the Council of Europe (CoE) for Azerbaijan for the period of 2022-2025 was presented in Baku at a ceremony attended by Maria Pejčinović-Burić, CoE's Secretary General. The CoE plans to provide assistance to democratic reforms in Azerbaijan for 9.6 million euros; however, activists have doubted the efficiency of the CoE's policy towards Azerbaijan.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in 2015-2018, the CoE and the European Union (EU) spent more than five million euros on projects to support the freedom of expression, fight against corruption and improve the quality and efficiency of justice in Azerbaijan. The projects not only failed to achieve their goals, but also exacerbated the human rights situation, activists assert.

The new CoE's plan for Azerbaijan covers reforms of the political system, and transformations in the field of organizing and holding elections.

"The main goal is to achieve Azerbaijani people's living in a democratic society and accelerate the development of democratic institutions," Ms Pejčinović-Burić has stated, noting, however that "there are problems in a number of areas; this concerns the freedom of expression, elections, and fair justice. The new plan will also cover new areas, namely, artificial intelligence, ecology, and the fight against trafficking in humans and narcotic drugs."

According to Khafiz Gasanov, the head of the "Law and Development" Centre, the Azerbaijan's membership in the CoE has failed with achieving any significant changes in the field of human rights.