Azerbaijan denies visa to PACE special reporter

BAKU, Azerbaijan (AP) — Azerbaijan has refused to issue a visa to a German special reporter for the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

Christoph Strasser had intended to visit Azerbaijan to prepare a report on political prisoners.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Elman Abdullayev told the AP on Thursday that the visa was denied because PACE has not defined what makes a political prisoner.

Saida Godjamanly, who heads a rights organization in Azerbaijan, says there are currently 15 people whom rights activists consider political prisoners.

The energy-rich former Soviet republic has faced persistent criticism from international rights groups for its heavy-handed treatment of independent media, opposition parties and rights activists.