DOCSLIB.ORG

Azerbaijan Azerbaijan

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Azerbaijan Azerbaijan ECE UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR EUROPE 2 nd ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE nd ENVIRONMENTAL 2 PERFORMANCE REVIEW REVIEW AZERBAIJAN AZERBAIJAN Printed at United Nations, Geneva USD 35 UNITED NATIONS GE.11-20409 - March 2011 - 1,465 ISBN 978-92-1-117035-1 ECE/CEP/158 United Nations publication Sales No. E.10.II.E.17 ISSN 1020-4563 ECE/CEP/158 UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR EUROPE ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE REVIEWS AZERBAIJAN Second Review UNITED NATIONS New York and Geneva, 2011 Environmental Performance Reviews Series No. 31 NOTE Symbols of United Nations documents are composed of capital letters combined with figures. Mention of such a symbol indicates a reference to a United Nations document. The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. In particular, the boundaries shown on the maps do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations. The United Nations issued the first Environmental Performance Review of Azerbaijan (Environmental Performance Reviews Series No. 19) in 2004. This volume is issued in English and Russian only. ECE/CEP/158 UNITED NATIONS PUBLICATION Sales No 10.II.E.17 ISBN: 978-92-1-117035-1 ISSN 1020-4563 Copyright © United Nations, 2011 All rights reserved iii Foreword Environmental Performance Reviews (EPRs) for countries with economies in transition were initiated by Environment Ministers at the second Environment for Europe Ministerial Conference, held in Lucerne, Switzerland, in 1993. Subsequently, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Committee on Environmental Policy decided to make the EPRs part of its regular programme. The firstcycle of reviews that began in 1994 covered 23 countries from the UNECE region and was carried out until 2004. At the fifth Environment for Europe Ministerial Conference (Kiev, 2003), the Ministers affirmed their support for the EPR Programme, in particular as an important instrument for countries with economies in transition, and decided that the Programme should continue with a second cycle of reviews. This support was reconfirmedat the sixth Environment for Europe Ministerial Conference (Belgrade, 2007). This second cycle, while assessing the progress made since the first review process, puts particular emphasis on implementation, integration, financing and the socio-economic interface with the environment. Through the peer review process, EPRs also promote dialogue among UNECE member States and the harmonization of environmental conditions and policies throughout the region. As a voluntary exercise, EPRs are undertaken only at the request of the countries concerned. The studies are carried out by international teams of experts from the UNECE region, working closely with national experts from the reviewed country. The teams also benefitfrom close cooperation with other organizations in the United Nations system, for instance the United Nations Development Programme, as well as with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and other organizations. This is the second EPR of Azerbaijan to be published by UNECE. The review takes stock of the progress made by Azerbaijan in the management of its environment since the country was firstreviewed in 2003. It assesses the implementation of the recommendations contained in the firstreview (Annex I-B). This second EPR also covers nine issues of importance to Azerbaijan related to policymaking, planning and implementation, the financing of environmental policies and projects, and the integration of environmental concerns into economic sectors, in particular the sustainable management and protection of water resources and the protection of the Caspian Sea, waste management, air management, and forestry, biodiversity and protected areas. I hope that this second EPR will be useful in supporting policymakers and representatives of civil society in their efforts to improve environmental management and to further promote sustainable development in Azerbaijan, and that the lessons learned from the peer review process will also benefitother countries of the UNECE region. Ján Kubiš Executive Secretary Economic Commission for Europe v Preface The second Environmental Performance Review (EPR) of Azerbaijan began in November 2009 with a preparatory mission. During this mission, the final structure of the report was discussed and established. A review mission took place from 11 to 22 April 2010. The team of international experts taking part included experts from the Czech Republic, Kazakhstan, Portugal, the Slovak Republic, and Switzerland as well as from the secretariats of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). The draft EPR report was submitted to Azerbaijan for comment and to the Expert Group on Environmental Performance for consideration in September 2010. During its meeting on 28 October 2010, the Expert Group discussed the report in detail with expert representatives of the Government of Azerbaijan, focusing in particular on the conclusions and recommendations made by the international experts. The Expert Group decided to address those recommendations of the first EPR of Azerbaijan that were still valid in two different ways. If a chapter from the first EPR was also covered in the second EPR, then valid recommendations and their conclusions from the former would be reflected at the end of the respective chapter in the latter. If a first EPR chapter however was not covered in the second EPR, valid recommendations would be mentioned in Annex I-A “Valid Recommendations from the first Environmental Performance Review not covered in preceding chapters”. The remaining first EPR recommendations that had been implemented partially or fully would be covered in Annex I-B “Implementation of the recommendations of the first Environmental Performance Review”. The EPR recommendations, with suggested amendments from the Expert Group, were then submitted for peer review to the Committee on Environmental Policy on 2 November 2010. A high-level delegation from Azerbaijan participated in the peer review. The Committee adopted the recommendations as set out in this report. The Committee on Environmental Policy and the UNECE review team would like to thank the Government of Azerbaijan and its experts who worked with the international experts and contributed their knowledge and assistance. UNECE wishes the Government of Azerbaijan further success in carrying out the tasks involved in meeting its environmental objectives, including the implementation of the recommendations contained in this second review. UNECE would also like to express its deep appreciation to the Governments of the Netherlands, Norway and Switzerland for their financial contributions; to the Governments of Portugal and Switzerland for having delegated their experts for the review; to UNEP and the United Nations Development Programme for their support of the EPR Programme and this review. Team of experts for the second EPR of Azerbaijan, 2010 vii LIST OF TEAM MEMBERS Mr. Antoine Nunes ECE Team Leader Mr. Yaroslav Bulych ECE Project Coordinator Mr. Jyrki Hirvonen ECE Introduction Mr. George Georgiadis ECE Chapter 1 Mr. Vadim Ni Kazakhstan Chapter 2 Mr. Mikhail Kokine ECE Chapter 3 Mr. Alexander Kopp Switzerland Chapter 4 Mr. Jose Palacin ECE Chapter 5 Mr. Vladislav Bizek Czech Republic Chapter 6 Mr. José de Bettencourt Portugal Chapter 7 Mr. Juraj Farkaš Slovakia Chapter 8 Ms. Ivonne Higuero UNEP Chapter 9 The mission for the project took place from 12 to 21 April 2010. The peer review was held in Geneva on 28 October 2010. The ECE Committee on Environmental Policy adopted the recommendations set out in this document. Mrs. Nona Iliukhina contributed and was involved in drafting some parts of the report. Information cut-off date: 28 October 2010 UNECE Information Unit Tel.: +41 (0)22 917 44 44 Palais des Nations Fax: +41 (0)22 917 05 05 CH-1211 Geneva 10 E-mail: [email protected] Switzerland Website: http://www.unece.org viii LIST OF NATIONAL TEAM MEMBERS Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources Mr. Goussein Bagirov, Minister International cooperation division, national EPR coordinator Mr. Emin Garabaghli, Head Introduction Mr. Imran Abdulov Chapter 1 Mr. Rasim Sattarzada Chapter 2 Mr. Teymur Shakaraliyev Chapter 3 Ms. Irada Ibrahiomova Chapter 4 Mr. Rashad Allahversiyev Chapter 5 Ms. Haciyeva Gulshan Chapter 6 Mr. Fizuli Mammadov Chapter 7 Mr. Mirsalam Qambarov Chapter 8 Mr. Adil Zeynalov Chapter 9 Mr. Alizada Hikmat LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS National contributors Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources Mr. Mutallim Abdulhasanov Ms. Nigar Abdurakhmanova Mr. Azer Aslanov Ms. Matanat Avazova Mr.Natig Babayev Mr.Shovket Bakirov Mr.Agasadig Gasimov Mr. Rauf Hajiyev Ms. Tarana Hajiyeva Mr. Tahir Hashimzadeh Mr. Rustam Husseinov Mr. Niyazi Ismailov Mr. Mikayil Jabbarov Mr. Ogtay Jafarov Mr. Pasha Karimov Mr. Yashar Karimov Mr. Elnur Khalilov ix Ms. Solmaz Mamedova Ms. Gulkhar Mammadova Ms. Sedaqet Mammadova Mr. Mammadhuseyn Muslumov Mr. Sabit Mustafaev Mr. Arzu Mustafayev Mr. Karimov Niyaz Mr. Agasadiq Qasimov Mr. Ramiz Rafiyev Ms. Sima Rustamova Mr. Sadig Salmanov Mr. Gulmali Suleymanov Ms. Umayra Tagiyeva Mr. Aghasadiq Yasimov Ministry of Education Ms. Sevda Abassova
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Fresh- and Brackish-Water Cold-Tolerant Species of Southern Europe: Migrants from the Paratethys That Colonized the Arctic
    water Review Fresh- and Brackish-Water Cold-Tolerant Species of Southern Europe: Migrants from the Paratethys That Colonized the Arctic Valentina S. Artamonova 1, Ivan N. Bolotov 2,3,4, Maxim V. Vinarski 4 and Alexander A. Makhrov 1,4,* 1 A. N. Severtzov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119071 Moscow, Russia; [email protected] 2 Laboratory of Molecular Ecology and Phylogenetics, Northern Arctic Federal University, 163002 Arkhangelsk, Russia; [email protected] 3 Federal Center for Integrated Arctic Research, Russian Academy of Sciences, 163000 Arkhangelsk, Russia 4 Laboratory of Macroecology & Biogeography of Invertebrates, Saint Petersburg State University, 199034 Saint Petersburg, Russia; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected] Abstract: Analysis of zoogeographic, paleogeographic, and molecular data has shown that the ancestors of many fresh- and brackish-water cold-tolerant hydrobionts of the Mediterranean region and the Danube River basin likely originated in East Asia or Central Asia. The fish genera Gasterosteus, Hucho, Oxynoemacheilus, Salmo, and Schizothorax are examples of these groups among vertebrates, and the genera Magnibursatus (Trematoda), Margaritifera, Potomida, Microcondylaea, Leguminaia, Unio (Mollusca), and Phagocata (Planaria), among invertebrates. There is reason to believe that their ancestors spread to Europe through the Paratethys (or the proto-Paratethys basin that preceded it), where intense speciation took place and new genera of aquatic organisms arose. Some of the forms that originated in the Paratethys colonized the Mediterranean, and overwhelming data indicate that Citation: Artamonova, V.S.; Bolotov, representatives of the genera Salmo, Caspiomyzon, and Ecrobia migrated during the Miocene from I.N.; Vinarski, M.V.; Makhrov, A.A.
    [Show full text]
  • Universita' Degli Studi Di Milano Bicocca
    Dipartimento di Scienze Ambiente e Territorio e Scienze della Terra Università degli studi di Milano-Bicocca Dottorato di Ricerca in Scienze della Terra XXVI ciclo Earthquake-induced static stress change in promoting eruptions Tutore: Prof. Alessandro TIBALDI Co-tutore: Dott.ssa Claudia CORAZZATO Fabio Luca BONALI Matr. Nr. 040546 This work is dedicated to my uncle Eugenio Marcora who led my interest in Earth Sciences and Astronomy during my childhood Abstract The aim of this PhD work is to study how earthquakes could favour new eruptions, focusing the attention on earthquake-induced static effects in three different case sites. As a first case site, I studied how earthquake-induced crustal dilatation could trigger new eruptions at mud volcanoes in Azerbaijan. Particular attention was then devoted to contribute to the understanding of how earthquake-induced magma pathway unclamping could favour new volcanic activity along the Alaska-Aleutian and Chilean volcanic arcs, where 9 seismic events with Mw ≥ 8 occurred in the last century. Regarding mud volcanoes, I studied the effects of two earthquakes of Mw 6.18 and 6.08 occurred in the Caspian Sea on November 25, 2000 close to Baku city, Azerbaijan. A total of 33 eruptions occurred at 24 mud volcanoes within a maximum distance of 108 km from the epicentres in the five years following the earthquakes. Results show that crustal dilatation might have triggered only 7 eruptions at a maximum distance of about 60 km from the epicentres and within 3 years. Dynamic rather than static strain is thus likely to have been the dominating “promoting” factor because it affected all the studied unrested volcanoes and its magnitude was much larger.
    [Show full text]
  • Azerbaijan Azerbaijan
    COUNTRY REPORT ON THE STATE OF PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE AZERBAIJAN AZERBAIJAN National Report on the State of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture in Azerbaijan Baku – December 2006 2 Note by FAO This Country Report has been prepared by the national authorities in the context of the preparatory process for the Second Report on the State of World’s Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. The Report is being made available by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) as requested by the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. However, the report is solely the responsibility of the national authorities. The information in this report has not been verified by FAO, and the opinions expressed do not necessarily represent the views or policy of FAO. The designations employed and the presentation of material in this information product do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of FAO concerning the legal or development status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The mention of specific companies or products of manufacturers, whether or not these have been patented, does not imply that these have been endorsed or recommended by FAO in preference to others of a similar nature that are not mentioned. The views expressed in this information product are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of FAO. CONTENTS LIST OF ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS 7 INTRODUCTION 8 1.
    [Show full text]
  • Legal Updates
    March 2020 An up-to-the-minute guide to developments in the legislation of the Republic of Azerbaijan Legal updates In this issue, we would like to bring ► Deadline for submission of tax reports and payment of taxes has to your attention a brief overview been extended of the following: The government has extended the deadline for submission of tax reports ► Deadline for submission of tax and payment of taxes. The statutory limitation for submission of the reports and payment of taxes reports on taxes and payment thereof has been postponed till 6 April has been extended 2020. ► The initial stages of the The decision to extend the deadline has been made because of the introduction of mandatory prolongation of non-working days due to the outbreak of COVID-19. Below health insurance have been are the types of tax in question: combined • Corporate income tax • Property tax of legal entities • Personal income tax (submitted by individuals) • Excise tax, value added tax, road and mining taxes, simplified tax on cash withdrawals, income tax on winnings (prizes) for February 2020 • Simplified withholding tax return for persons providing immovable property for February 2020 Furthermore, deadline for payment of income tax calculated by private notaries for February and the withholding tax for February in connection with employment to the state budget will be 6 April 2020. For your reference, please see the respective link: https://www.taxes.gov.az/az/post/1009 ► The initial stages of the introduction of mandatory health insurance have been combined The Cabinet of Ministers has also introduced changes to the Decree on "Sequence of implementation of compulsory health insurance in the regions of the country".
    [Show full text]
  • World Bank Document
    75967 Review of World Bank engagement in the Public Disclosure Authorized Irrigation and Drainage Sector in Azerbaijan Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized February 2013 Public Disclosure Authorized © 2012 International Bank for Reconstruction and Development / The World Bank 1818 H Street NW Washington DC 20433 Telephone: 202-473-1000I Internet: www.worldbank.org This volume is a product of the staff of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development/The World Bank. The findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed in this paper do not necessarily reflect the views of the Executive Directors of The World Bank or the governments they represent. The World Bank does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this work. The boundaries, colors, denominations, and other information shown on any map in this work do not imply any judgment on the part of The World Bank concerning the legal status of any territory or the endorsement or acceptance of such boundaries. The material in this publication is copyrighted. Copying and/or transmitting portions or all of this work without permission may be a violation of applicable law. The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development/The World Bank encourages dissemination of its work and will normally grant permission to reproduce portions of the work promptly. For permission to photocopy or reprint any part of this work, please send a request with complete information to the Copyright Clearance Center, Inc., 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, USA, telephone 978-750-8400, fax 978-750-4470, http://www.copyright.com/. All other queries on rights and licenses, including subsidiary rights, should be addressed to the Office of the Publisher, The World Bank, 1818 H Street NW, Washington, DC 20433, USA, fax 202-522-2422, e-mail [email protected].
    [Show full text]
  • Status and Protection of Globally Threatened Species in the Caucasus
    STATUS AND PROTECTION OF GLOBALLY THREATENED SPECIES IN THE CAUCASUS CEPF Biodiversity Investments in the Caucasus Hotspot 2004-2009 Edited by Nugzar Zazanashvili and David Mallon Tbilisi 2009 The contents of this book do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of CEPF, WWF, or their sponsoring organizations. Neither the CEPF, WWF nor any other entities thereof, assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, product or process disclosed in this book. Citation: Zazanashvili, N. and Mallon, D. (Editors) 2009. Status and Protection of Globally Threatened Species in the Caucasus. Tbilisi: CEPF, WWF. Contour Ltd., 232 pp. ISBN 978-9941-0-2203-6 Design and printing Contour Ltd. 8, Kargareteli st., 0164 Tbilisi, Georgia December 2009 The Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) is a joint initiative of l’Agence Française de Développement, Conservation International, the Global Environment Facility, the Government of Japan, the MacArthur Foundation and the World Bank. This book shows the effort of the Caucasus NGOs, experts, scientific institutions and governmental agencies for conserving globally threatened species in the Caucasus: CEPF investments in the region made it possible for the first time to carry out simultaneous assessments of species’ populations at national and regional scales, setting up strategies and developing action plans for their survival, as well as implementation of some urgent conservation measures. Contents Foreword 7 Acknowledgments 8 Introduction CEPF Investment in the Caucasus Hotspot A. W. Tordoff, N. Zazanashvili, M. Bitsadze, K. Manvelyan, E. Askerov, V. Krever, S. Kalem, B. Avcioglu, S. Galstyan and R. Mnatsekanov 9 The Caucasus Hotspot N.
    [Show full text]
  • United Nations Economic Commission for Europe for Suggestions and Comments
    Unofficial translation* SUMMARY REPORT UNDER THE PROTOCOL ON WATER AND HEALTH THE REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN Part One General aspects 1. Were targets and target dates established in your country in accordance with article 6 of the Protocol? Please provide detailed information on the target areas in Part Three. YES ☐ NO ☐ IN PROGRESS If targets have been revised, please provide details here. 2. Were they published and, if so, how? Please explain whether the targets and target dates were published, made available to the public (e.g. online, official publication, media) and communicated to the secretariat. The draft document on target setting was presented in December 2015 to the WHO Regional Office for Europe and United Nations Economic Commission for Europe for suggestions and comments. After the draft document review, its discussion with the public is planned. To get suggestions and comments it will be made available on the website of Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan Republic and Ministry of Health of Azerbaijan Republic. Azerbaijan Republic ratified the Protocol on Water and Health in 2012 and as a Protocol Party participated in two cycles of the previous reporting. At present the targets project is prepared and sent to the WHO Regional Office for Europe and United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. It should be noted that the seminar to support the progress of setting targets under the Protocol on Water and Health was held in Baku on 29 September 2015. More than 40 representatives of different ministries and agencies, responsible for water and health issues, participated in it.
    [Show full text]
  • Azerbaijan 2021 Energy Policy Review Co-Funded by the European Union
    Co-funded by the European Union Azerbaijan 2021 Energy Policy Review Co-funded by the European Union Azerbaijan 2021 Energy Policy Review INTERNATIONAL ENERGY AGENCY The IEA examines IEA member IEA association the full spectrum countries: countries: of energy issues including oil, gas Australia Brazil and coal supply and Austria China demand, renewable Belgium India energy technologies, Canada Indonesia electricity markets, Czech Republic Morocco energy efficiency, Denmark Singapore access to energy, Estonia South Africa demand side Finland Thailand management and France much more. Through Germany its work, the IEA Greece advocates policies Hungary that will enhance Ireland the reliability, Italy affordability and Japan sustainability of Korea energy in its 30 Luxembourg member countries, Mexico 8 association Netherlands countries and New Zealand beyond. Norway Poland Portugal Slovak Republic Spain Sweden Switzerland Turkey United Kingdom United States The European Commission also participates in the work of the IEA Please note that this publication is subject to specific restrictions that limit its use and distribution. The terms and conditions are available online at www.iea.org/t&c/ Source: IEA. All rights reserved. International Energy Agency Website: www.iea.org Foreword The International Energy Agency (IEA) has been conducting in-depth peer reviews of the energy policies of its member countries – and of other countries – since 1976, and it recently modernised these reviews to focus on some of the countries’ key energy transition and security challenges. FOREWORD Azerbaijan is one of the focus countries of the EU4Energy programme, which is carried out by the IEA and the European Union along with the Energy Community Secretariat and the Energy Charter Secretariat.
    [Show full text]
  • Span Style="Color: Rgb(128, 0, 0);"
    WithinWithin the the framework framework of of these these events, events, the the zonal zonal wrestling wrestling competition, competition, held held at at Hovsan Hovsan Olympic Olympic SportsSports Complex, Complex, among among schoolchildren schoolchildren has has ended. ended. In In the the competition, competition, the the athletes athletes competed competed in in 10 10 weight categories in freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling. 130 athletes from 13 districts of Baku joined thethe fight fight for for the the title title of of winner. winner. According According to to the the results results of of the the competition, competition, the the teams teams of of Narimanov, Narimanov, Nasimi and Khazar districts won 1st, 2nd and 3rd places respectively in team score. TheThe zonal zonal athletics athletics competition competition was was organized organized in Ismayilli in Ismayilli district. district. The Theteams teams of Balakan, of Balakan, Zagatala,Zagatala, Gakh, Gakh, Gabala, Gabala, Oguz, Oguz, Ismayilli, Ismayilli, Shamakhi Shamakhi and and Goychay Goychay regions regions competed competed in in the the competition, competition, heldheld at at Ismayilli Ismayilli Olympic Olympic Sports Sports Complex. Complex. The The teams teams of of Oguz, Oguz, Ismayilli Ismayilli and and Gabala Gabala districts districts won won 1st, 1st, 2nd 2nd and 3rd places respectively. TheThe zonal zonal volleyball volleyball competition competition was was held held in in Oguz Oguz district. district. The The teams teams of of Balakan, Balakan, Oguz Oguz and and Sheki Sheki districtsdistricts won won 1st, 1st, 2nd 2nd and and 3rd 3rd places places respectively respectively in thein the zonal zonal competition, competition, held held at atOlympic Olympic Sports Sports Complex.
    [Show full text]
  • World Bank Document
    Report No. 60180-AZ Public Disclosure Authorized Azerbaijan: Country Environmental Analysis Public Disclosure Authorized Priorities, Public Environmental Expenditures, and Institutional Readiness March 2011 Public Disclosure Authorized Sustainable Development Department Europe and Central Asia Region The World Bank Public Disclosure Authorized Azerbaijan: Country Environmental Analysis Priorities, Public Environmental Expenditures, and Institutional Readiness Contents Abbreviations and Acronyms ........................................................................................................... 6 Acknowledgments ............................................................................................................................ 8 Executive Summary ......................................................................................................................... 9 Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 14 A. The approach ....................................................................................................................... 15 B. Key environmental issues and priority setting .................................................................... 15 C. The State Environment Program ......................................................................................... 20 i. The process of formulation and implementation ............................................................. 20 ii. Selection of
    [Show full text]
  • £AZERBAIJAN @Hostages in the Context of the Karabakh Conflict - an Update
    £AZERBAIJAN @Hostages in the context of the Karabakh conflict - an update Introduction Hostage-taking has been an intractable problem since the beginning of the conflict over Karabakh - an area of Azerbaijan populated mainly by ethnic Armenians. Over 20,000 people are estimated to have died in this conflict which has spread beyond Karabakh, now under the overall control of ethnic Armenian forces, to other areas of Azerbaijan which they have occupied. Hundreds of people, many unarmed civilians, have been held as hostages by all sides to the conflict. These hostages have been held by private individuals, with the knowledge and/or complicity of the authorities. They have also been held by the authorities themselves, who in some cases are reported to have detained people and then distributed them as hostages to private families who have members held as hostages by the other side. There have been many reports of torture and ill-treatment in detention. The self-perpetuating cycle of taking hostages to exchange for those held by the other side has been exacerbated by the activity of intermediaries, who have brokered hostage distribution to families, or their exchange, for money. Even corpses are traded. Humanitarian law forbids hostage-taking under any circumstances. Amnesty International has persistently appealed to all parties to the conflict to ensure that no one is detained as a hostage, or otherwise held solely on the grounds of their ethnic origin. The organization strongly believes that all human rights violations are to be deplored and that in no circumstances can abuses perpetrated by one party be used as justification for abuses carried out by another.
    [Show full text]
  • Azerbaijan 2018 Human Rights Report
    AZERBAIJAN 2018 HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Azerbaijani constitution provides for a republic with a presidential form of government. Legislative authority is vested in the Milli Mejlis (National Assembly). The presidency is the predominant branch of government, exceeding the judiciary and legislature. The election observation mission of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) concluded that the April 11 presidential election took place within a restrictive political environment and under a legal framework that curtailed fundamental rights and freedoms, which are prerequisites for genuine democratic elections. National Assembly elections in 2015 could not be fully assessed due to the absence of an OSCE election observation mission, but independent observers alleged numerous irregularities throughout the country. Civilian authorities maintained effective control over the security forces. Separatists, with Armenia’s support, continued to control most of Nagorno- Karabakh and seven surrounding Azerbaijani territories. The final status of Nagorno-Karabakh remained the subject of international mediation by the OSCE Minsk Group. Violence along the Line of Contact continued, although at lower levels starting in October, after the Azerbaijani and Armenian leaders met in Dushanbe. Human rights issues included unlawful or arbitrary killing; torture; arbitrary detention; harsh and sometimes life-threatening prison conditions; political prisoners; criminalization of libel; physical attacks on journalists; arbitrary
    [Show full text]