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AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL ANNUAL REPORT: THERE ARE A TOTAL OF 23 PRISONERS OF CONSCIENCE IN AZERBAIJAN
12:40 26/02/2015 >> SOCIETY
http://www.panorama.am/en/politics/2015/02/26/azerbaijan-amnesty/
Azerbaijan proved particularly aggressive in its repression of dissent;
there are a total of 23 prisoners of conscience in Azerbaijan,
including bloggers, political activists, civil society leaders and
human rights lawyers. Azerbaijan's presidency of the Council of Europe
in the first half of the year failed to induce restraint, the report
of the international human rights organization "Amnesty International"
reads. The report 2014/15 documents the state of human rights in 160
countries and territories.
"At least six prominent human rights defenders were imprisoned and
leading human rights organizations forced to shut down or cease their
activities. Independent journalists continued to face harassment,
violence and trumped-up criminal charges. Freedom of assembly
remained restricted. There were frequent reports of torture and other
ill-treatment," the report reads.
According to the report, NGO leaders continued to face threats and
harassment from the authorities, including raids by security forces,
the confiscation of equipment and imposition of travel bans. At least
10 leading human rights NGOs were prevented from operating as their
bank accounts were frozen under a high-profile criminal investigation
from May onwards. Additional restrictions concerning NGO registration
and activities were introduced in the law and used arbitrarily to
open criminal proceedings against several NGO leaders.
It's also noted that the authorities continued to imprison government
critics, political activists and journalists. At the end of the year,
there were at least 20 prisoners of conscience. In a major crackdown
on human rights activists, six prominent NGO leaders were remanded
on charges of fraud, illegal entrepreneurship and "abuse of power".
Independent journalists continued to face threats, violence and
harassment. Bloggers and opposition youth leaders were typically
charged with drug-related offences.
Demonstrations remained effectively prohibited outside officially
designated, and typically remote, areas. In central Baku, the capital,
law enforcement authorities used violence and excessive force to
prevent and break up "unauthorized", peaceful assemblies throughout
the year, the report reads.
The organization is also aware of a number of cases of torture and
other ill-treatment which were not effectively investigated.
From: Baghdasarian
12:40 26/02/2015 >> SOCIETY
http://www.panorama.am/en/politics/2015/02/26/azerbaijan-amnesty/
Azerbaijan proved particularly aggressive in its repression of dissent;
there are a total of 23 prisoners of conscience in Azerbaijan,
including bloggers, political activists, civil society leaders and
human rights lawyers. Azerbaijan's presidency of the Council of Europe
in the first half of the year failed to induce restraint, the report
of the international human rights organization "Amnesty International"
reads. The report 2014/15 documents the state of human rights in 160
countries and territories.
"At least six prominent human rights defenders were imprisoned and
leading human rights organizations forced to shut down or cease their
activities. Independent journalists continued to face harassment,
violence and trumped-up criminal charges. Freedom of assembly
remained restricted. There were frequent reports of torture and other
ill-treatment," the report reads.
According to the report, NGO leaders continued to face threats and
harassment from the authorities, including raids by security forces,
the confiscation of equipment and imposition of travel bans. At least
10 leading human rights NGOs were prevented from operating as their
bank accounts were frozen under a high-profile criminal investigation
from May onwards. Additional restrictions concerning NGO registration
and activities were introduced in the law and used arbitrarily to
open criminal proceedings against several NGO leaders.
It's also noted that the authorities continued to imprison government
critics, political activists and journalists. At the end of the year,
there were at least 20 prisoners of conscience. In a major crackdown
on human rights activists, six prominent NGO leaders were remanded
on charges of fraud, illegal entrepreneurship and "abuse of power".
Independent journalists continued to face threats, violence and
harassment. Bloggers and opposition youth leaders were typically
charged with drug-related offences.
Demonstrations remained effectively prohibited outside officially
designated, and typically remote, areas. In central Baku, the capital,
law enforcement authorities used violence and excessive force to
prevent and break up "unauthorized", peaceful assemblies throughout
the year, the report reads.
The organization is also aware of a number of cases of torture and
other ill-treatment which were not effectively investigated.
From: Baghdasarian