The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe (CoE) began discussing the implementation of the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) on Azerbaijan on 8 June.
There are two monitoring groups regarding the implementation of decisions by the Azerbaijani government.
The Khadija Ismayilova Group supervises two decisions taken by the ECHR on the same-name journalist’s complaints. These decisions are related to the violation of the applicant’s right to privacy and freedom of expression in connection to her activities as a journalist.
Prior to the meeting, the Azerbaijani government told the Council of Europe that the government had taken the necessary measures for implementing the decisions related to Ismayilova’s case, including payment of compensation, suspension of criminal cases, special protection to the privacy and family life of journalists, and safeguarding freedom of expression.
However, journalist Khadija Ismayilova wrote in a Facebook post that the government not only did not take any steps on the general part of the decisions, but also worsened the situation. Ismayilova demands that the crimes against her are properly investigated and that the ECHR’s decision is fully implemented.
The second group, known as Mammadli Case Group, monitors the implementation of six ECHR condemnations on Azerbaijan.
Decisions on the complaints of Anar Mammadli and others were based on the applicants’ pre-trial detention and imprisonment in connection to its active political and social participation, criticism of the government, and election observation activities.
In its argument, the Azerbaijani government claimed that the decisions of the Mammadli group are still to be judged by the Supreme Court of Azerbaijan. It was also affirmed that all people in the case had already been acquitted and compensated, and that their convictions for the remaining applicants had no negative legal consequences.
The Council of Europe monitors the implementation of ECHR judgments based on information provided by relevant authorities, applicants, NGOs and other relevant parties. At the end of the three-day meeting, the Council of Europe will announce its resolutions on the implementation of the decisions discussed.