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AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL: AZERBAIJANI OPPOSITION LEADER AMBUSHED IN LENKORAN
http://azerireport.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3832&Ite mid=42
Musavat Party leader Isa Gambar's car, following the attack in the
Lankaran region of southern Azerbaijan LONDON. January 15, 2013:
A thorough, independent investigation is needed into what appears to
have been an orchestrated attack on Azerbaijani opposition presidential
candidate Isa Gambar on the campaign trail, Amnesty International said.
According to Gambar's Musavat Party, he was on his way to campaign
in the southern coastal city of Lenkoran on Sunday when 10 vehicles
attempted to block his convoy at the city's entrance.
A Musavat spokesperson told Amnesty International that a crowd of
more than 100 people then pelted the candidate's convoy with rocks
and eggs taken from nearby trucks, smashing the car windows. Nine
people in Gambar's entourage were injured including several who were
punched and kicked and Musavat Party deputy leader Gulagha Aslanli,
who had his foot run over by a car.
During the ambush, a Musavat Party photographer, Mehman Karimov, was
briefly detained for questioning by men in plainclothes who appeared to
be directing the crowd. He was released after they returned his camera.
Police officers who were nearby did not intervene, but Gambar and his
convoy managed to flee the scene - only after being rammed by a truck
and followed for several kilometres by a group of around five cars.
"The apparently organized nature of the ambush on Isa Gambar's convoy
and the failure of the police to intervene is clearly very worrying and
needs to be investigated," said John Dalhuisen, Amnesty International's
Director for Europe and Central Asia.
"The authorities must launch an immediate investigation into the
incident. Meanwhile Azerbaijan's European partners should be demanding
an explanation for how a serious assault on the opposition Presidential
candidate was allowed to take place."
The ambush came just 10 days after Gambar announced his intention to
run for President in the October 2013 elections, and the day after
scores were arrested at a major opposition protest in the capital Baku.
Around 2,000 people had gathered in Baku on Saturday to protest
against the death of a young army conscript who is believed to have
been tortured to death.
Although the protest was not organized by a political party,
according to human rights and opposition activists, at least 50
opposition activists were targeted and arrested by police. At least
22 were charged and handed large fines on Monday between 300 and 600
AZN (US$380-760). According to the State Statistical Committee of
Azerbaijan, US$513 is the average monthly wage in Baku.
"Despite recently releasing a number of prisoners of conscience,
the Azerbaijani government continues to arrest opposition activists
for peacefully expressing dissent," said Dalhuisen.
"Coupled with the attack on the opposition candidate, this does
not bode well for a fair and free presidential election in which the
fundamental rights to freedom of assembly and expression are respected"
(Amnesty International).
http://azerireport.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3832&Ite mid=42
Musavat Party leader Isa Gambar's car, following the attack in the
Lankaran region of southern Azerbaijan LONDON. January 15, 2013:
A thorough, independent investigation is needed into what appears to
have been an orchestrated attack on Azerbaijani opposition presidential
candidate Isa Gambar on the campaign trail, Amnesty International said.
According to Gambar's Musavat Party, he was on his way to campaign
in the southern coastal city of Lenkoran on Sunday when 10 vehicles
attempted to block his convoy at the city's entrance.
A Musavat spokesperson told Amnesty International that a crowd of
more than 100 people then pelted the candidate's convoy with rocks
and eggs taken from nearby trucks, smashing the car windows. Nine
people in Gambar's entourage were injured including several who were
punched and kicked and Musavat Party deputy leader Gulagha Aslanli,
who had his foot run over by a car.
During the ambush, a Musavat Party photographer, Mehman Karimov, was
briefly detained for questioning by men in plainclothes who appeared to
be directing the crowd. He was released after they returned his camera.
Police officers who were nearby did not intervene, but Gambar and his
convoy managed to flee the scene - only after being rammed by a truck
and followed for several kilometres by a group of around five cars.
"The apparently organized nature of the ambush on Isa Gambar's convoy
and the failure of the police to intervene is clearly very worrying and
needs to be investigated," said John Dalhuisen, Amnesty International's
Director for Europe and Central Asia.
"The authorities must launch an immediate investigation into the
incident. Meanwhile Azerbaijan's European partners should be demanding
an explanation for how a serious assault on the opposition Presidential
candidate was allowed to take place."
The ambush came just 10 days after Gambar announced his intention to
run for President in the October 2013 elections, and the day after
scores were arrested at a major opposition protest in the capital Baku.
Around 2,000 people had gathered in Baku on Saturday to protest
against the death of a young army conscript who is believed to have
been tortured to death.
Although the protest was not organized by a political party,
according to human rights and opposition activists, at least 50
opposition activists were targeted and arrested by police. At least
22 were charged and handed large fines on Monday between 300 and 600
AZN (US$380-760). According to the State Statistical Committee of
Azerbaijan, US$513 is the average monthly wage in Baku.
"Despite recently releasing a number of prisoners of conscience,
the Azerbaijani government continues to arrest opposition activists
for peacefully expressing dissent," said Dalhuisen.
"Coupled with the attack on the opposition candidate, this does
not bode well for a fair and free presidential election in which the
fundamental rights to freedom of assembly and expression are respected"
(Amnesty International).