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AZERBAIJAN: CRACKDOWN ON CIVIL SOCIETY
11:44 05.09.13
The Azerbaijani government is engaged in a deliberate, abusive strategy
to limit dissent. The strategy is designed to curtail opposition
political activity, limit public criticism of the government, and
exercise greater control over nongovernmental organizations, The
Human Rights Watchreports.
The clampdown on freedom of expression, assembly, and association
have accelerated in the months preceding the presidential elections,
scheduled for October 9, 2013.
The 100-page report, "Tightening the Screws: Azerbaijan's Crackdown
on Civil Society and Dissent," documents the dramatic deterioration
of the government's record on freedom of expression, assembly, and
association in the past 18 months. The authorities have arrested
dozens of political activists on bogus charges, imprisoned critical
journalists, broken up peaceful public demonstrations, and adopted
legislation imposing new restrictions on fundamental freedoms. Human
Rights Watch documented the arrest and imprisonment of several
high-ranking members of opposition political parties, government
critics with large followings on social media, and people who have
frequently been involved in political protests.
"A vibrant public debate through the media and freedom to participate
in peaceful public demonstrations are part and parcel of free and
fair elections," said Giorgi Gogia, senior South Caucasus researcher
at Human Rights Watch and author of the report. "It will hardly be
a free and fair vote if so many people who criticize the authorities
and report the news in the country are in jail or otherwise harassed
into silence."
The government should ensure that all those in detention on
unsubstantiated, politically motivated charges including political
activists, journalists, human rights defenders, and other civil society
activists, are released. The government should stop pursuing spurious
charges against its critics, Human Rights Watch said.
Armenian News - Tert.am
11:44 05.09.13
The Azerbaijani government is engaged in a deliberate, abusive strategy
to limit dissent. The strategy is designed to curtail opposition
political activity, limit public criticism of the government, and
exercise greater control over nongovernmental organizations, The
Human Rights Watchreports.
The clampdown on freedom of expression, assembly, and association
have accelerated in the months preceding the presidential elections,
scheduled for October 9, 2013.
The 100-page report, "Tightening the Screws: Azerbaijan's Crackdown
on Civil Society and Dissent," documents the dramatic deterioration
of the government's record on freedom of expression, assembly, and
association in the past 18 months. The authorities have arrested
dozens of political activists on bogus charges, imprisoned critical
journalists, broken up peaceful public demonstrations, and adopted
legislation imposing new restrictions on fundamental freedoms. Human
Rights Watch documented the arrest and imprisonment of several
high-ranking members of opposition political parties, government
critics with large followings on social media, and people who have
frequently been involved in political protests.
"A vibrant public debate through the media and freedom to participate
in peaceful public demonstrations are part and parcel of free and
fair elections," said Giorgi Gogia, senior South Caucasus researcher
at Human Rights Watch and author of the report. "It will hardly be
a free and fair vote if so many people who criticize the authorities
and report the news in the country are in jail or otherwise harassed
into silence."
The government should ensure that all those in detention on
unsubstantiated, politically motivated charges including political
activists, journalists, human rights defenders, and other civil society
activists, are released. The government should stop pursuing spurious
charges against its critics, Human Rights Watch said.
Armenian News - Tert.am