WATCH: Authorities in Baku demolish the offices of the Institute for Peace and Democracy, a nongovernmental organization, as part of an urban-renewal project.
The United Nations has called on Azerbaijani authorities to thoroughly investigate last week's destruction of the offices of a prominent rights group in Baku and, if necessary, provide compensation.
In a statement today, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said it was "concerned" by the demolition of the building housing the Institute of Peace and Democracy as well as of two other nongovernmental groups, the Azerbaijan Campaign to Ban Land Mines and the Women's Crisis Center.
The UN body urged Azerbaijan to "guarantee safe working conditions" for human rights campaigners in line with international agreements.
The building was torn down on August 11 under police supervision as part of an urban-renewal project, a move that drew strong condemnation from local residents, rights groups, and the European Union.
The United Nations has called on Azerbaijani authorities to thoroughly investigate last week's destruction of the offices of a prominent rights group in Baku and, if necessary, provide compensation.
In a statement today, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said it was "concerned" by the demolition of the building housing the Institute of Peace and Democracy as well as of two other nongovernmental groups, the Azerbaijan Campaign to Ban Land Mines and the Women's Crisis Center.
The UN body urged Azerbaijan to "guarantee safe working conditions" for human rights campaigners in line with international agreements.
The building was torn down on August 11 under police supervision as part of an urban-renewal project, a move that drew strong condemnation from local residents, rights groups, and the European Union.