Hammarberg (Council of Europe)
September 7, 2007 -- Council of Europe Human Rights Commissioner Thomas Hammarberg says he raised concerns over refugees, prison conditions, and press freedom during a week-long visit to Azerbaijan.
Hammarberg said he would be releasing a report on human rights in Azerbaijan in three months.
He said he hoped President Ilham Aliyev and other officials would "read the report very carefully when it comes out."
Western governments and rights groups have repeatedly criticized Azerbaijan for its human rights record, in particular for harsh treatment of prisoners and crackdowns on the media.
(AFP)