OSCE Office concerned over police action against peaceful demonstration in Baku

BAKU, 28 November 2005 - The Head of the OSCE Office in Baku has expressed his deep concern over police violence against demonstrators, after the authorised opposition rally on 26 November, and has urged all political forces in the country to avoid a new season of confrontation.

The police action started without any warning ten minutes after the demonstration exceeded its legally permitted time, when the opposition parties expressed their intention to start a peaceful sit-in in a square. According to some reports, over 400 demonstrators and several journalists were injured, while 30 people were detained.

"International standards must be matched not only during the drafting of legislation, but most importantly in the implementation of the letter and spirit of the law," said Ambassador Maurizio Pavesi, the Head of the OSCE Office in Baku.

"The principle of defending public order cannot be used to justify police violence, in particular when the demonstrators have not actually disturbed the public order but are in violation of administrative decisions.

"At the same time, I invite the opposition to refrain from actions that are only conducive to creating further tension and potentially radicalizing political life", added Ambassador Pavesi

Underlining the importance of a dialogue for normalizing political life in the country, he said: "We hope that the recent declarations of willingness to start a dialogue, made both by the authorities and opposition parties, will result in concrete actions. The OSCE stands ready to facilitate such an initiative, if its help would be welcomed by both sides.

"The OSCE Office assumes that the events of 26 November will not be cited as grounds for imposing any further restrictions on the fundamental constitutional right to freedom of assembly."