The Milli Majlis Committee for Human Rights had a meeting on 1 March.

Opening the meeting, the committee chairman Zahid Oruj said the agenda dealt with but one matter, namely, the 2021 report of the Human Rights Commissioner (Ombudsman), in which connexion Mr Oruj brought the path covered by the Azerbaijani Ombudsman’s Office to the attention of the meeting participants.

Mr Oruj talked about the pressing issues of maintaining the human rights and freedoms that had come to the fore in the wake of Azerbaijan’s victory in the Patriotic War. He also touched on the necessary focus on defending the rights of the shahid families and the war veterans.

Certain international organisations take up the stances regarding Azerbaijan that rather depart from impartiality; so, the international weight of the Ombudsman’s Office would be brought to bear in this business, according to Mr Oruj.

The deputy committee chairman Tahir Karimli and the member-MPs Hikmat Mammadov, Razi Nurullayev, Naghif Hamzayev, Fazil Mustafa, Tural Ganjaliyev, Elman Nasirov and Bahrouz Maharramov argued that the public confidence in the Office of the Ombudsman was on the rise, that the Office was active each of the 44 days the Patriotic War had taken, and that it was necessary to keep that active attitude up as well as to pay attention tirelessly to the rights and freedoms of the Azerbaijanis trampled down by Armenia. Besides, the MPs commented on the suggestions contained in the report, further working areas and trends of the Office of the Ombudsman and the current issues of the human rights and freedoms’ protection.

Aydin Safikhanli who is Chief of the Ombudsman’s Staff gave the MPs some clarifications and answered their questions.

Ultimately, the committee recommended that the 2021 report by the Ombudsman should be brought before the Milli Majlis at a sitting in plenary.

The Press and Public Relations Department
The Milli Majlis