The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has adopted a resolution commending the continuous commitment of Armenia to its democratic development.
Resolution N 2 580 says “with respect to Armenia, referring to Resolution 2560 (2024), the Assembly commends the continuous commitment of the country to its democratic development in spite of the considerable security challenges it is facing. It welcomes the inclusiveness and transparency of the legislative process that underlaid the reform of the Electoral Code and considers that the objective of holding genuinely democratic elections which win the confidence of the Armenian people has been largely achieved.
The Assembly regrets that the political climate remains exceedingly polarised and antagonistic and calls on all stakeholders to improve the relationship between the parliamentary majority and the opposition. The Assembly calls upon the authorities to continue with the implementation of reforms regarding the justice system and in the fields of media and freedom of expression.”
With respect to Azerbaijan, with reference to its Resolution 2527 (2024) “Challenge, on substantive grounds, of the still unratified credentials of the parliamentary delegation of Azerbaijan”, the Assembly remains seriously concerned about the further deterioration of the state of democracy, rule of law and human rights in the country. It remains concerned about the continuing crackdown on political and civil society activists, media representatives and other government critics. It exhorts the authorities to end retaliatory prosecutions and to immediately release all those who are detained on politically motivated charges.
It calls upon the authorities to amend the Law on Political Parties, the Law on Media and the relevant legislation concerning NGOs, in line with the recommendations of the European Commission for Democracy through Law (Venice Commission). The Assembly also strongly deplores the authorities’ refusal to co-operate with the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) and calls on them to resume without delay its co-operation with this body. Moreover, the Assembly deplores the lack of invitation to observe the 2024 early presidential and parliamentary elections. It notes with regret that, according to international observers, these elections did not meet international standards for democratic elections and were held under increased restrictions on freedom of expression, assembly, and association.
It also strongly condemns, and considers unacceptable, that on 26 August 2024, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs declared personae non gratae the 76 members of the Assembly who had voted in favour of Resolution 2527 (2024). It exhorts the authorities to immediately revoke this ban and to engage in a constructive dialogue with the Council of Europe’s bodies – in particular the Committee of Ministers, the Secretary General and the Assembly itself – on all outstanding issues. The Assembly, referring to its Resolution 2517 (2023) and Recommendation 2260 (2023) on “The humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh”, and the Resolution 2560 (2024) on “The honouring of obligations and commitments by Armenia”, continues to follow the situation with detained representatives of Nagorno-Karabakh and all Armenian prisoners of war currently held in Azerbaijan, reiterating its call to Azerbaijan to release these people.
