Coveney calls for release of jailed Azerbaijani opposition politician

Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney has called on the Government of Azerbaijan to release an opposition politician who has been detained in violation of his human rights.

Mr Coveney told the Dáil yesterday that he was “deeply concerned” by arrest and pre-trial detention of Ilgar Mammadov, which the European Court of Human Rights has found to be in violation of the European Convention.

He said: “Ireland has repeatedly called on the Government of Azerbaijan to release Mr Mammadov without delay and to fully implement the judgment in this and other related cases.

“Ireland is a firm supporter of the Council of Europe which it views as an indispensable platform for the promotion and protection of human rights standards across Europe. Ireland places particular emphasis on the importance of the European Convention on Human Rights and on the obligation on Member States to abide by a final judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in any case to which they are a party.

“In light of Azerbaijan’s ongoing refusal to implement this judgment, Ireland fully supports Secretary General Jagland’s proposal that the Committee of Ministers refer to the Court the question of whether Azerbaijan has failed to fulfil its obligation to abide by the judgment of the Court in this case.

“I would urge the Government of Azerbaijan to implement the judgment immediately, to avoid the need to refer the case to the Court.”