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Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev made lies while giving speech at the session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. Moreover, losing his temper, Aliyev showed intolerance towords criticism, Ali Kerimli the leader of the opposition National Front Party of Azerbaijan (PPFA) told to "ObektivTV", the Azerbaijani news agency "Turan" reports.

PFPA leader Ali Kerimli in an interview with ObektivTV told that the speech by Ilham Aliyev at the PACE session expresses only regret, because the President has demonstrated the European audience his intolerance of criticism. According to him, “If this man so sharply reacts to criticism of European parliamentarians, how he behaves with his opponents in his own country?”

"The fact that corruption prospers in Azerbaijan, that there are 130 political prisoners, and elections are rigged is known worldwide. But when Ilham Aliyev was asked questions about these topics, he lost his temper,” Ali Kerimli said.

Kerimli noted that over 10 years in power, he has never participated in any political controversy. He only acted monologues, never had dialogue, never responded to questions from reporters, and did not have a roundtable with the opposition. Therefore, Aliyev, who had never heard criticism, heard the bitter truth, lost his temper, behaved aggressively, demonstrating his level and attitude to criticism," continued Kerimli.

"Aliyev's statements on ensuring the country's freedom of speech and assembly, the absence of political prisoners is an outright lie," said Kerimli.

Kerimli reminded the final conclusion of the monitoring mission of the OSCE ODIHR of 340 observers from 41 countries to participate in the presidential election in 2013. Observers from the OSCE ODIHR stated that on 58% precincts the vote count was on the poor or very poor levels.

As for Aliyev’s statements that there are no arrested journalists in the country, Kerimli said that media representatives have always been in custody in Azerbaijan, and nothing has changed till now. Independent media can now be counted on one hand.

"Independent media’s number can now be counted on one hand. If there is freedom of speech in the country, then why broadcast on FM radio frequencies is banned for "Iberty", "Voice of America" and the BBC radio stations? Why does the leading newspaper of the country, "Azadlig", barely survive? This newspaper is the only printed edition in Azerbaijan that criticizes President Ilham Aliyev and top authorities close to him. The government is doing everything to close the newspaper," said Kerimli.

Referring to the situation of the political opposition, Kerimli reminded that during the period of Aliyevs’ stay in office, PPFA has seven times been deprived of their office. Kerimli himself has been deprived of his foreign passport for eight years. PPFA cannot hold assemblies and events, as well as meetings with its party members. Police invades private homes of the party activists where meetings are held. "To state after all this, that political rights and freedoms are ensured in Azerbaijan, is a frank lie in front of the whole international community," Kerimli told.

Asked about the way out Kerimli said that international organizations should continue criticism without yielding to blackmails of the Azerbaijani government.

PPFA leader noted that the official Baku uses energy factor, demanding from the West to close eyes on the human rights violations.
However, in reality, the oil and gas cooperation is necessary more for Azerbaijan, and the West should not succumb to pressure. The second factor is a threat of getting closer to Russia, if the West will not tolerate the policy of the Azerbaijani authorities. However, Azerbaijan economically is strongly tied to the West, and the Russian Federation, Kazakhstan and Belarus have only 4% of Azerbaijan's exports and 18% of imports.

Finally Kerimly focused on Karabakh conflict, which, according to him, cannot be solved without the West.

“Therefore, the international organizations should not be afraid of tough rhetoric of the Azerbaijani authorities and retreat,” the politician noted.

“Certainly, the accession of democracy is the Azerbaijani people’s business, but the international community too must be principled to say that the white is white, black is black, and demand from the authorities to fulfill their international organizations, including 59 European Conventions,” said Kerimli.

On June 23 draft resolution entitled "Azerbaijan's chairmanship at the Council of Europe: what steps are taken in terms of respect for human rights?" was approved at PACE Bureau meeting in Strasbourg; the draft was initiated by the Irish MP Michael McNamara. The process of monitoring was entrusted to the PACE Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights.

Aliyev pissed off and British parliamentarian question of fraud in the recent presidential elections in Azerbaijan. Aliyev accused the deputy of lying, saying that violations and falsifications occur in your country.

It should be noted that in PACE a group of activists were applauding to questions on human rights in Azerbaijan. Aliyev did not ignore this fact, saying that they are under wrong influence.