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Amnesty International: Azerbaijani authorities continue to intimidate
and arrest those who criticize government
22:49 23/05/2013 » LAW
The Azerbaijani government continues to intimidate and imprison people
and groups who criticizes the government. Peaceful protests in the
centre of the city were banned and dispersed by the police with
excessive use of force. Torture, especially in police custody, was
frequently reported, the annual report of the international human
rights organization Amnesty International reads.
“The government targeted human rights defenders and journalists for
their work and subjected them to intimidation, harassment and arrest.
The authorities use arrests and spurious charges to clamp down on
activists and protestors,” the document said.
The organization reminds about the case of threatening of Khadija
Ismayilova, investigative journalist with Radio Free Europe, as well
as the arrests of Hilal Mamedov, editor of The Voice of Talysh
newspaper, Zaur Gurbanli, pro-democracy campaign activist and chair of
the opposition youth movement Nida and a number of other cases of
violation of expression freedom.
Besides, according to the report, the NGOs working on human rights and
democracy issues faced pressure and harassment and found it difficult
to hold meetings or operate freely, especially outside Baku.
“Public protests continued to be banned in the centre of Baku. In
November, amendments to the Criminal Code increased the maximum
punishment for those organizing and participating in “unauthorized” or
“banned” protests. The new sentence could be up to three years in
prison and a fine of US$10,000,” the AI writes.
Peaceful assemblies were regularly dispersed with excessive force by
police and those who attempted to take part in peaceful rallies faced
harassment, beatings and arrest.
Source: Panorama.am
and arrest those who criticize government
22:49 23/05/2013 » LAW
The Azerbaijani government continues to intimidate and imprison people
and groups who criticizes the government. Peaceful protests in the
centre of the city were banned and dispersed by the police with
excessive use of force. Torture, especially in police custody, was
frequently reported, the annual report of the international human
rights organization Amnesty International reads.
“The government targeted human rights defenders and journalists for
their work and subjected them to intimidation, harassment and arrest.
The authorities use arrests and spurious charges to clamp down on
activists and protestors,” the document said.
The organization reminds about the case of threatening of Khadija
Ismayilova, investigative journalist with Radio Free Europe, as well
as the arrests of Hilal Mamedov, editor of The Voice of Talysh
newspaper, Zaur Gurbanli, pro-democracy campaign activist and chair of
the opposition youth movement Nida and a number of other cases of
violation of expression freedom.
Besides, according to the report, the NGOs working on human rights and
democracy issues faced pressure and harassment and found it difficult
to hold meetings or operate freely, especially outside Baku.
“Public protests continued to be banned in the centre of Baku. In
November, amendments to the Criminal Code increased the maximum
punishment for those organizing and participating in “unauthorized” or
“banned” protests. The new sentence could be up to three years in
prison and a fine of US$10,000,” the AI writes.
Peaceful assemblies were regularly dispersed with excessive force by
police and those who attempted to take part in peaceful rallies faced
harassment, beatings and arrest.
Source: Panorama.am