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CoE Commissioner for Human Rights Nils Muzhnieks again touched on political prisoners’ issue in Azerbaijan on New Year's Eve. "My greetings to human rights activists in Azerbaijan, who face the repression of the authorities," wrote the European Commissioner in social network Twitter and posted the link of the official page of the Commission to Facebook. The link demonstrates the picture of political prisoners in Azerbaijan.

"Many of us are getting ready for the holiday, but I think about the partner - human rights activists who have dedicated their life to the defense of human rights," the photo annotation reads.

According to the Commissioner, this year for a number of human rights activists in the CoE member countries was difficult and dangerous, however the most difficult situations is observed in Azerbaijan, where the authorities systematically use repression on human rights activists, members of the media and civil society partners of CoE. "The number of detainees and emigrants is growing. I welcome them, and will continue to do everything I can in 2015, to try to help them to achieve justice and to promote the protection of human rights," writes Muzhnieks.

Commissioner for Human Rights Nils Muzhnieks has recently condemned the Azerbaijani authorities for the arrest of journalist Khadija Ismayilova. In his statement made on December 9 he said that the arrest of Khadija Ismayilova, a well-known journalist and long-term partner of his office, confirms his concern about human rights defenders and other civil society activists who cooperate with the Council of Europe in Azerbaijan.

"I strongly condemn her arrest and consider it as another manifestation of the selective use of criminal law against those who criticize the government," said Nils Muzhnieks, stressing that in just a few hours before her arrest Ismayilova had contacted the office of the Council of Europe by the case of another journalist.