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On Al Jazeera TV channel's website an article was published written by political analyst Arzu Geybullayeva entitled "Azerbaijan and the burden of democracy," condemning the human rights situation in Azerbaijan.

The article reads that on May 6, a Baku court convicted eight young men to sentences of six to eight years for what many see as bogus charges. Seven of the convicted men are members of NIDA, a youth organised democratic civic movement. Throughout the hearing, evidence proving the innocence of the eight men was quickly dismissed. A number of international organisations and governments have condemned the sentencing.

As the author notes the eight are just a few of the 134 political prisoners currently held in Azerbaijan according to the Institute for Peace and Democracy.

A recent report by Freedom House measuring freedom of the press ranked Azerbaijan 184 out of 197 countries. NGOs like human rights watch have described the situation as "deteriorating", noting that, "The atmosphere for political activists and independent and pro-opposition journalists [has grown] acutely hostile."

“For many, democracy in Azerbaijan has been lost as the judgement of the international community appears to be focused on economic interests instead of blatant instances of human rights violations,” Arzu Geybullayeva writes.

So when the Minister of Europe, David Lidington, expressed concern about the sentences given to NIDA activists calling them "politically motivated", it presents a dichotomy between the EU's reprimanding stance towards human rights violations and their economic necessities, the author notes.

Interestingly, the Council of Europe member states has been silent about Azerbaijan's human rights record, the author notes.
According to her the situation at present in Azerbaijan suggests one thing - the burden of democracy is heavy and not all are willing to carry its weight.

The U.S. embassy to Azerbaijan, the U.S. Helsinki Commission , UK Minister for Europe, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and Freedom House human rights organizations have condemned the arrest of Azerbaijani youth activists of NIDA, given the forthcoming chairmanship of Azerbaijan in the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.

Note that the youth activists of NIDA are accused of preparing riots at Fountain Square of Baku on March 10. They are also charged with illegal possession of weapons, drugs and hooliganism. Amnesty International human rights organization recognized all of them as “prisoners of conscience". On May 6, the defendants were sentenced to 6-8 years of imprisonment.