Group of Socialists & Democrats in the European Parliament called EU to suspend negotiations with Baku
Baku/23.10.19/Turan: Last weekend Azerbaijani authorities violently dispersed peaceful rallies organised by the National Council of Democratic Forces (NCDF), an umbrella organisation of opposition parties, and civil society groups protesting against gender violence. Dozens of participants were detained, beaten and otherwise mistreated, including Ali Kerimli, the leader of the opposition People's Front.
Kati Piri, the S&D vice-president responsible for foreign affairs, said:
"This latest violent crackdown is yet more evidence of the blatant contempt the Aliyev regime has for the constitutional rights of freedom of speech and assembly, and the country's international commitments. To add to that, the violence was accompanied by a state-run smear campaign against the opposition and civil society activists, including an unprecedented attack on the EU diplomats fulfilling their professional tasks.
"Repression against the women activists who gathered peacefully to draw attention to gender violence in particular, exposes the hollowness and hypocrisy of the Azerbaijani government's professed commitment to gender equality."
S&D coordinator on foreign affairs, Tonino Picula, added:
"We urge the High Representative Federica Mogherini and the European Commission to suspend further negotiations on the new agreement between the EU and Azerbaijan until the Azerbaijani government commits itself fully to the respect of fundamental rights.
"Azerbaijan authorities must finally respect freedom of assembly, stop dismantling civil society and release all peaceful protesters, human rights activists or political prisoners that remain in detention." -16D-
Politics
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Azerbaijani Presidential Aide Hikmet Hajiyev, who is on a visit to Iran, was received by President Masoud Pezeshkian on February 2.
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Elvin Zeynalov, a religious activist living in the village of Mashtaga, was detained on January 31 around noon by individuals in plain clothes outside a store near his home. According to his relatives, later in the evening, Zeynalov was brought back home by people in black clothing, who conducted a search. They took Zeynalov's pants from the wardrobe, put marijuana in the pocket, then "seized" the drugs, filmed the video, and then took the activist away again.
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Aide to the President of Azerbaijan Hikmet Hajiyev is on a visit to Iran, where he met with Adviser to the President of the Islamic Republic Mehdi Sanayi.
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On January 31, the trial of opposition politician Tofig Yagublu continued at the Baku Serious Crimes Court, where the examination of documents resumed. Yagublu pointed out the falsification of the search protocols related to the search at his home. He drew attention to the fact that the protocol stated that on December 14, 2023, at 16:00, the investigator completed the questioning of the "victim" and decided to conduct a search.
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