Germany 'Very Critical Of' Azerbaijani HR Violations

Berlin, May 26, IRNA -- Germany here Friday called on Azerbaijan to uphold human rights in the wake of the latest wave of mass arrests of regime opponents on the sidelines of the Eurovision song contest. Addressing media representatives in Berlin, foreign ministry spokesman Andreas Peschke stressed his country had a 'very critical view' with regards to human rights and press freedom in Azerbaijan. He urged improvements on the issue, saying Berlin was closely following the developments in the energy-rich country. Security forces in Azerbaijan on Thursday arrested dozens of opposition activists who staged the latest in a series of unsanctioned protests as Baku hosts the prestigious Eurovision song contest. The protesters were detained at an opposition rally attended by scores of people outside the former Soviet state's public television station, which is the Azerbaijani partner for Eurovision broadcasts. While Baku wants to use Eurovision to gain international prestige, the pop contest has also drawn unprecedented attention to allegations that the government of President Ilham Aliyev jails opponents, persecutes journalists, clamps down on protests and stifles free speech. A small protest by around 100 opposition activists in Baku was broken up by police Monday on the eve of the first Eurovision semi-final./end