Human Rights Situation Worsens in the South Caucasus

Roman Afakidze

Today, a press-conference was held in the office of the Georgian Human Rights Center. Representatives of the Georgian Human Rights Center, Civil Society Institute of Armenia and Azerbaijan Human Rights Center attended the press-conference.

The aim of the press-conference was to inform the media about the report released by the Observatory – for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint program of the World Organization against Torture (OMCT) and the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH). The report demonstrates the human rights situation in the South Caucasus in 2008.

Simon Papuashvili from the Human Rights Center stated that according to the report, activities of the human rights organizations in the region faced more obstacles in 2008 in comparison to previous years. The report states that the restriction of the basic freedoms is mostly connected with the world economic crisis; however, in addition to that, as Simon Papuashvili stated, the situation worsened in Georgia after the war in August of 2008. The number of discontent people increased in the country and the government decided to punish them.

Artak Kirakosian, chairperson of the Civil Society Institute of Armenia, spoke about the situation in Armenia. He said unlike Russia the human rights defenders in South Caucasus feel safer. Nevertheless, there are signs that situation will worsen in the field of human rights in future. Consequently, there is no guaranty that similar situation will continue in future too. Kirakosian added that in 2009 the situation has worsened in comparison to previous years that will be mentioned in their reports.

Eldar Zeinalov, director of the Azerbaijan Human Rights Center, stated that the human rights situation is the worst in Azerbaijan in the region. He mentioned one fact to demonstrate the situation in his country – the government of Azerbaijan has arrested several human rights defenders. He added that until energetic values are more important for the West in Azerbaijan, the human rights situation will not improve in his country.