We deeply regret that the Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) of the Council of Europe decided to publish a public statement on Azerbaijan on July 3.

Axar.az reports that these views were included in the statement of the press secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Aykhan Hajizade, regarding the public statement of the Council of Europe's Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.

ICRC also made an unprecedented decision to publish the full report on the results of a special visit to Azerbaijan in 2022 without obtaining the relevant consent, contrary to the request of the European Convention on Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. accepted. This approach is unfair and unreasonable, as well as legally questionable.

Since 2002, ICAC has made periodic and special visits to our country several times and published reports on the implementation of the Convention by Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan presented the government's position on each provision mentioned in the reports. In addition, as mentioned in the public statement, relevant steps were taken to eliminate the relevant deficiencies and the Committee's recommendations were always taken into account.

During the period of cooperation, the Committee has been given the necessary support during its visits to date. In addition to supporting local investigations, steps have been taken to ensure the highest possible level of reception for delegation members and every effort has been made to strengthen the foundations of cooperation.

It is particularly regrettable that this decision was taken against the background of the current situation in Azerbaijan-Council of Europe relations, which arose after the biased decision of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) not to ratify the powers of the Azerbaijani delegation in January 2024.

We reject the criticisms in the said public statement that instead of constructive cooperation with a number of government agencies, they put the responsibility on them.

Azerbaijan is making significant progress in the field of protection of persons deprived of their freedom, as well as adaptation of relevant practice to generally accepted standards.