COUNCIL OF EUROPE SECRETARY GENERAL APPOINTS EXPERTS TO INQUIRE INTO CASES OF ALLEGED POLITICAL PRISONERS IN ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN

PanARMENIAN.Net - YEREVAN, February 16. /Mediamax/. Walter Schwimmer, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, confirmed today the appointment of three independent experts, who are eminent human rights specialists, to inquire into cases of alleged political prisoners in Armenia and Azerbaijan, in the context of the post-accession monitoring for the two countries, members of the Organization since 25 January 2001, Mediamax was informed in the press service of the Council of Europe.

"One political prisoner is one too many", said Walter Schwimmer echoing concerns expressed by both the Committee of Ministers and Parliamentary Assembly.

The experts are requested to give an opinion on cases referred to them as to whether the persons in question may be defined as political prisoners on the basis of objective criteria and in the light of the case-law of the European Court of Human Rights and Council of Europe standards. Their report is to be submitted by June 30, 2001. -0-