DATE=1/23/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-225717
TITLE=AZERBAIJAN RIGHTS (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=PETER HEINLEIN
DATELINE=BAKU
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE FORMER SOVIET REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN HAS ANNOUNCED
ABOLITION OF THE DEATH PENALTY AS IT CAMPAIGNS FOR ADMISSION TO
THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE. BUT AS VOA'S PETER HEINLEIN REPORTS FROM
BAKU, HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS CHARGE THE GOVERNMENT'S APPROACH TO
INDIVIDUAL LIBERTIES IS STILL STEEPED IN SOVIET TRADITION.
TEXT: RELATIVES OF DEATH ROW INMATES WEPT WITH JOY THURSDAY WHEN
PRESIDENT HEIDAR ALIYEV ANNOUNCED THE END OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT
IN AZERBAIJAN.
/// GAZIYEVA ACT IN AZERI -- ESTABLISH AND FADE ///
"I CAN HARDLY STAND ON MY FEET, I AM SO HAPPY." THOSE WERE THE
WORDS OF SEVIL GAZIYEVA WHEN SHE WAS REACHED BY TELEPHONE AND
TOLD HER HUSBAND'S LIFE HAD BEEN SPARED.
HER HUSBAND, FORMER AZERBAIJANI DEFENSE MINISTER RAHIM GAZIYEV,
HAS SPENT THE PAST THREE YEARS ON DEATH ROW. HE WAS CONVICTED OF
TREASON FOR TAKING A BRIBE WHICH LED TO A CRUSHING MILITARY
DEFEAT DURING THE BLOODY NAGORNO-KARBAKH CONFLICT.
PRESIDENT ALIYEV'S ANNOUNCEMENT HE WILL ASK PARLIAMENT TO ABOLISH
THE DEATH PENALTY WAS TIMED TO COINCIDE WITH A VISIT BY A COUNCIL
OF EUROPE DELEGATION CONSIDERING AZERBAIJAN'S APPLICATION FOR
MEMBERSHIP. THE COUNCIL HAS BEEN TRYING TO PERSUADE PERSPECTIVE
MEMBERS TO OUTLAW CAPITAL PUNISHMENT.
A COUNCIL SPOKESMAN TERMED THE MOVE A STEP FORWARD IN
AZERBAIJAN'S TRANSITION FROM A SOVIET-STYLE TOTALITARIAN
GOVERNMENT TO A DEMOCRATIC REGIME. HE URGED FURTHER MOVES TO
CORRECT WHAT HE CALLED IMPERFECTIONS IN THE COUNTRY'S LEGAL
SYSTEM.
BUT HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS COMPLAIN AZERBAIJAN REMAINS A STATE
WITH LITTLE REGARD FOR INDIVIDUAL LIBERTIES. THEY SAY ON THE
SAME DAY THE DEATH PENALTY ANNOUNCEMENT WAS MADE, AUTHORITIES
THREATENED TO OUTLAW A PROMINENT POLITICAL PARTY. HUMAN RIGHTS
CAMPAIGNER ELDAR ZEYNALOV SAYS HE WAS CALLED TO THE PROSECUTOR
GENERAL'S OFFICE EARLY THIS MONTH AND THREATENED WITH
IMPRISONMENT FOR PUBLISHING A LIST OF NAMES OF POLITICAL
PRISONERS. HE SAID AUTHORITIES TOLD HIM PUBLICATION OF THE NAMES
WAS A VIOLATION OF LAW BECAUSE THERE ARE NO POLITICAL PRISONERS
IN AZERBAIJAN.
MR. ZEYNALOV SAID LAW ENFORCEMENT BODIES STILL OPERATE THE SAME
WAY THEY DID IN SOVIET TIMES.
/// ZEYNALOV ACT ///
THE PROBLEM IS THE MENTALITY, REMAINING SOVIET MENTALITY
OF THE SOCIETY. ON THE OPPOSITE, CHANGING TO GENERATION
OF FORMER SOVIET PEOPLE, I HOPE THAT THINGS WILL CHANGE.
/// END ACT / //
//OPT// ANOTHER OF AZERBAIJAN'S LEADING HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGNERS,
SAIDA GODJAMANLY, COMPLAINS OF CONSTANT HARASSMENT, INCLUDING A
CAMPAIGN TO LABEL HER A FOREIGN SPY.
/// GODJAMANLY ACT IN AZERI -- ESTABLISH AND FADE ///
MS. GODJAMANLY SAID AUTHORITIES TRY TO BUILD A NEGATIVE IMAGE OF
ACTIVISTS BY REPORTING THEY WORK FOR FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE
AGENCIES. SHE EXPLAINS HER ORGANIZATION, THE "INSTITUTE OF PEACE
AND DEMOCRACY," DOES RECEIVE FUNDING FROM THE UNITED STATES AND
OTHER WESTERN GOVERNMENTS. //END OPT//
INDEPENDENT OBSERVERS CREDIT PRESIDENT ALIYEV WITH STEERING
AZERBAIJAN TOWARD A MORE OPEN ATTITUDE ON INDIVIDUAL LIBERTIES.
THEY SAY THAT, IN ITSELF, IS REMARKABLE -- FOR A FORMER K-G-B
GENERAL WHO SERVED ON THE SOVIET POLITBURO. BUT RIGHTS ACTIVISTS
ARGUE THAT THE SYSTEM, MORE THAN SIX YEARS AFTER THE COLLAPSE OF
THE SOVIET UNION, REMAINS THE SAME. (SIGNED)
NEB/PFH/PCF
23-Jan-98 6:19 AM EST (1119 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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