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The PACE winter session (26-30 January) has been submitted a draft resolution on freedom of the press in Europe. The draft document published on the PACE website says that in some European countries there is serious suppression of freedom of speech and the media. Among the killed members of the press the names of the Azerbaijani journalists Elmar Huseynov and Rafig Taghi, Anna Politkovskaya, Paul Khlebnikov, Georgy Gongadze and Hrant Dink are mentioned., the Azerbaijani news agency Turan reports.

As noted in the article, the text of the document also refers to arrested Azerbaijani journalist Khadija Ismayilova, who was investigating corruption facts committed by the country's top leadership. The resolution calls on Baku to immediately release the arrested journalists and to stop their persecution.

The agency reminds that the project has been prepared by the members of the Assembly, including members of the Armenian delegation.

In the meanwhile it became known that the International Coalition of NGO "Sport in the name of human rights" has addressed to German Chancellor Angela Merkel on the eve of her meeting with President Ilham Aliyev in Berlin. Authors of the appeal ask Merkel to make the main subject of human rights at the meeting, Turan writes.

"In recent years, Azerbaijan has constantly limited space for journalism and civil society activities. We have witnessed unprecedented repression during the last 6 months. Leading human rights activists and investigative journalists were arrested and thrown into prison for criticizing the authorities. They are accused on trumped up charges such as tax evasion," the statement reads.

As noted in the article, in particular, the coalition asks Merkel to remind Aliyev on the obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights. "Before you become a master of the upcoming games, you must erase the disgrace of human rights violations," the appeal reads, "To be successful, these games require urgent policy changes, as well as the release from detention of journalists and human rights defenders,” the statement readas.

According to the Turan agency the statement was signed by Center for Civil Liberties (Ukraine), the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights (Poland), Index on Censorship (UK), International Partnership for Human Rights (Belgium), the Netherlands Helsinki Committee, the Norwegian Helsinki Committee, People in Need (Czech Republic), Platform (UK), the Fund Youaid (Poland) and a group of civil society activists.

The Turan agency notes that the Centre for Monitoring of Political Prisoners (CMPP) made a statement in connection with starting the trial of human rights defender Intigam Aliyev. As the Center stated despite the serious health problems, Aliyev has not been released under house arrest and the investigation of the case is accompanied by numerous violations. “Monitoring investigation gives grounds to assert that the investigation is biased and criminal proceedings are of an ordered character," the statement reads.

The arrest of Intigam Aliyev, Leyla Yunus, Arif Yunus and other prisoners of conscience is regarded as an integral part of the plan to destroy the civil society in Azerbaijan, Turan writes.

The agency reminds that Intigam Aliyev was arrested on trumped up charges of illegal business, tax evasion and abuse of office. The true reason for his prosecution is his active advocacy and preparation of 200 complaints to the European Court of Human Rights.