Massive Police Calls and Pressure on Democracy Activists

Baku / 12.11.19 / Turan: The Movement for Democracy and Welfare (MDW) announced pressure on its activists and calling them to the police on the recent days.

In particular, yesterday the deputy chairman of the MDW, Ellada Mammadli was taken to the Khatai district police department "for dating." During a three-hour conversation, she was informed that her activities had been monitored for many years and she was under constant supervision. In particular, her activities on social networks, not only published posts, but also what she shared. After a “preventive threatening” conversation, she was released.

The other deputy chairman of the MDW, Adalat Yusub, got a call from the Narimanov police and was asked about social and political activities, and promised to "see each other very soon."

A Board member of the MDW Rovshan Damirli was summoned to the 30th branch of the Surakhani district police department in the village of Hovsan and released after interrogation.

Enver Agamalyzadeh, a member of the MDW, veteran teacher of mathematics, was called up to the 33rd branch of the Surakhani district police department. He was questioned about all the relatives, compiled their list and arranged a two-hour interrogation. Agamalyzadeh was also detained at a rally on October 19.

Arif Alizadeh, head of the Bianagadi District Organization of the MDW, as well as activists Rauf Salimov and Amid Suleymanov were interrogated by the local police.

The head of the Goychay district party organization, Hikmet Gasimli, was also summoned to the “preventive conversation”.

According to a statement issued by the MDW on November 12, mass arrests, surveillance, police calls, threats and torture of detainees indicate that "the criminal authoritarian regime draws the country into chaos and civil confrontation." What is happening is regarded as an encroachment on "freedom of thought, interference with personal life."

The MDW calls on authorities to respect laws, comply with international obligations, and end the practice of surveillance, pressure and torture. Responsibility for the consequences of possible undesirable scenarios will rest entirely with the government, the report says.

The MDW was established in February 2016. The organization is led by a well-known politician and economist Gubad Ibadoglu. —06D-