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On the eve of the 124th session of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe in Vienna Azerbaijan accepted chairmanship in this organization for the next six months. However, against the background of the arrests and court verdicts in Baku carried out since the beginning of Azerbaijan’s presidency in this organization, which values human rights above all, is apparently a false start, says Azerbaijani news agency "Turan".

As it is noted in the article titled “Elmar Mammadyarov assures, while the police disperse” the Azerbaijani FM Elmar Mammadyarov stated on the occasion of accepting chairmanship at the Council of Europe that, "Azerbaijan will spare no effort in strong support of the three pillars of the Council of Europe - human rights, rule of law, and democracy."

According to the Azerbaijani president Azerbaijan will pay serious attention to the urgent and resolute response of member countries to the problems of democracy, stability and security.

“A few hours before the solemn assurances by Mamedyarov on commitment to human rights and the rule of law, a verdict against NIDA activists was passed in Baku, and a rally in their support was violently dispersed; more than 20 participants of the rally were arrested and brought to justice. Therefore the beginning of Azerbaijan's chairmanship of the Council of Europe, the organization for which the human rights are above all, is more a false start,” Turan writes.

Yesterday, on May 6, in the Baku Court of Grave Crimes seven NIDA movement activists were sentenced as well as a member of the "Free Youth" movement. They were sentenced to prison from 6 to 8 years. All of them were found guilty of organizing mass unrests on March 10, 2013 during the protest against the deaths of soldiers in the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan. The court also found them guilty of illegal possession of explosives, drugs and disorderly conduct. International human rights organization Amnesty International has recognized all the accused "prisoners of conscience".

The verdict against the NIDA activists was received indignantly by the supporters of the accused standing outside the court. Protesters started to chant "Freedom." Police dispersed the crowd, about 20 people were detained.