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IN RUN-UP TO MEETING WITH OSCE OBSERVERS AUTHORITIES OF NAKHICHEVAN THREATEN LOCAL HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS WITH PHYSICAL REPRISAL
14:57 30/09/2013 " REGION
On 25 September 2013 the head of the OSCE observation mission Tana
de Zulueta and analyst on Legal Affairs Megan Fitzgerald paid a
one-day visit to Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic of Azerbaijan. They
met with the human rights activists and representatives of a number of
parties, including the opposition. Before the meeting the authorities
of Nakhichevan began to threaten defenders with physical reprisals,
the article published in an Azerbaijani newspaper "The Mirror" states.
As stated in the report, during their visit the OSCE representatives
met with Vasif Talibov, the Chairman of the Supreme Majlis of
Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic (NAR). Then the guests visited IV
Nakhchivan city constituency in order to assess the pre-election
situation. The OSCE representatives also held a meeting with the local
representatives of "Musavat", Popular Front, "Umid", "Civil Solidarity"
and "Yeni Azerbaijan" parties.
The pre-election situation in Nakhichevan was also widely discussed
with human rights defenders Malahta Nasibova, Ilgar Nasibov,
Hakimeldostu Mehtiev. According to the newspaper Hakimeldostu Mehtiev,
the meeting with the OSCE representatives lasted about an hour.
"Basically, the pre-election situation in Azerbaijan was discussed,"
he said.
According to Mehtiev the participants of the meeting were telling
the OSCE representatives about the pressure exerted on them by the
Nakhichevani authorities. "We told them that the government of the
Autonomous Republic of Nakhichevan is trying to impede Jamila Hasanly's
election campaign," he stated.
He noted, that before this meeting, the representatives of the
Nakhichevani authorities had threatened him with physical reprisal
and arrest. "We were threatened through our friends and relatives. But
they could not scare us," Mehtiev said.
As another participant at the meeting, human rights activist Nasibova,
reported, during the meeting with the OSCE observers violations that
occurred in the territory of Nakhichevan have been discussed. Human
rights activists also spoke about the violations that may occur during
the presidential elections.
"At one time, forced by the economic hardships, many residents of
Nakhichevan were to leave the territory of the Autonomous Republic
and move to Turkey with their families. Thus, during each election,
their votes are used to ensure the victory of the ruling party
candidate,"said the human rights activist.
As Malahta Nasibova noted, she had told the OSCE representatives
about the threats faced by the authorized representatives of Jamila
Hasanly, the single candidate of the oppositionist National Council of
Democratic Forces Party. "We expressed our expectation to see a fair
report prepared by the OSCE representatives. The OSCE representatives
told us that Vasif Talybov had promised them that the authorities of
the Autonomous Republic of Nakhichevan will not create obstacles to
hinder the work of the OSCE observers," Nasibova said.
According to Arzu Abdulaeva, the head of the National Committee of
Helsinki Civil Assembly, who recently visited Nakchichevan together
with the other human rights defenders, the city of Nachichevan seemed
to be dead, as there were no people in the streets.
According to the human rights defender, during the walks in the
city they encountered a group of men. "We approached them. During
the conversation it turned out that these were special agents, who
were ordered to follow us. In the mean-time, we need to be delighted
with the courage of the human rights defenders, who, even in these
difficult conditions, continue their job", she stated.
Source: Panorama.am
14:57 30/09/2013 " REGION
On 25 September 2013 the head of the OSCE observation mission Tana
de Zulueta and analyst on Legal Affairs Megan Fitzgerald paid a
one-day visit to Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic of Azerbaijan. They
met with the human rights activists and representatives of a number of
parties, including the opposition. Before the meeting the authorities
of Nakhichevan began to threaten defenders with physical reprisals,
the article published in an Azerbaijani newspaper "The Mirror" states.
As stated in the report, during their visit the OSCE representatives
met with Vasif Talibov, the Chairman of the Supreme Majlis of
Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic (NAR). Then the guests visited IV
Nakhchivan city constituency in order to assess the pre-election
situation. The OSCE representatives also held a meeting with the local
representatives of "Musavat", Popular Front, "Umid", "Civil Solidarity"
and "Yeni Azerbaijan" parties.
The pre-election situation in Nakhichevan was also widely discussed
with human rights defenders Malahta Nasibova, Ilgar Nasibov,
Hakimeldostu Mehtiev. According to the newspaper Hakimeldostu Mehtiev,
the meeting with the OSCE representatives lasted about an hour.
"Basically, the pre-election situation in Azerbaijan was discussed,"
he said.
According to Mehtiev the participants of the meeting were telling
the OSCE representatives about the pressure exerted on them by the
Nakhichevani authorities. "We told them that the government of the
Autonomous Republic of Nakhichevan is trying to impede Jamila Hasanly's
election campaign," he stated.
He noted, that before this meeting, the representatives of the
Nakhichevani authorities had threatened him with physical reprisal
and arrest. "We were threatened through our friends and relatives. But
they could not scare us," Mehtiev said.
As another participant at the meeting, human rights activist Nasibova,
reported, during the meeting with the OSCE observers violations that
occurred in the territory of Nakhichevan have been discussed. Human
rights activists also spoke about the violations that may occur during
the presidential elections.
"At one time, forced by the economic hardships, many residents of
Nakhichevan were to leave the territory of the Autonomous Republic
and move to Turkey with their families. Thus, during each election,
their votes are used to ensure the victory of the ruling party
candidate,"said the human rights activist.
As Malahta Nasibova noted, she had told the OSCE representatives
about the threats faced by the authorized representatives of Jamila
Hasanly, the single candidate of the oppositionist National Council of
Democratic Forces Party. "We expressed our expectation to see a fair
report prepared by the OSCE representatives. The OSCE representatives
told us that Vasif Talybov had promised them that the authorities of
the Autonomous Republic of Nakhichevan will not create obstacles to
hinder the work of the OSCE observers," Nasibova said.
According to Arzu Abdulaeva, the head of the National Committee of
Helsinki Civil Assembly, who recently visited Nakchichevan together
with the other human rights defenders, the city of Nachichevan seemed
to be dead, as there were no people in the streets.
According to the human rights defender, during the walks in the
city they encountered a group of men. "We approached them. During
the conversation it turned out that these were special agents, who
were ordered to follow us. In the mean-time, we need to be delighted
with the courage of the human rights defenders, who, even in these
difficult conditions, continue their job", she stated.
Source: Panorama.am