Azerbaijan has contributed to the note of the US State Department on the inadmissibility of repressions against political dissidents

***

Q: The US Department of State has sent a diplomatic note to foreign embassies in Washington urging them to refrain from reprisals against their citizens "in the United States or anywhere else outside its territory." What do you think prompted Washington to take this step?

Answer: The note of the State Department should be regarded as a warning to a number of authoritarian regimes. Despotic regimes persecute their political opponents, critics and journalists around the world. The most horrifying of these cases is the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, which took place on October 2, 2018 in the building of the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul. It is also possible that there is information about terrorist acts of this type in the United States. Currently, the focus of the world is the Ukrainian-Russian conflict. As practice shows, usually in such periods, authoritarian regimes that find themselves in the spotlight carry out total repressions against their competitors. With this note, Washington warns authoritarian regimes that no terrorist acts or political revenge will be ignored.

Q: This is probably not just about persecution in the US. The persecution of dissidents in Europe and elsewhere is also fundamental. How often do these cases occur in Europe?

Answer: Persecution of political emigrants, murders, contract arrests are taking place in the wider European space. The country that more actively uses the practice of killing its political opponents outside the country is Russia. There is information that Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov ordered dozens of political assassinations in Dubai, Turkey and Germany. Cases of murder, kidnapping, blackmailing of political emigrants, and in some cases their deportation to their countries, have become more frequent in the European space.

Q: The State Department, in its 2019 Human Rights Report on Azerbaijan, added a section on transnational repression to the section on "politically motivated repression against persons outside the country." Can we say that a large share of this call from the State Department falls on the Azerbaijani authorities?

Answer: Undoubtedly, there is a special role of the Azerbaijani authorities in the anxiety of the State Department. Azerbaijan is among the countries that are most prone to persecution of their political opponents outside the country. Journalist Rauf Mirgadirov and former MP Huseyn Abdullayev were arrested in Turkey, blogger Elvin Isaev - in Ukraine and taken to Azerbaijan. One of the activists of the Musavat party, Dashga Agalarly, was arrested in Georgia and Poland, I was kidnapped from Georgia and taken to Azerbaijan. In 2021, three political activists died outside the country. Bayram Mammadov died in Istanbul under unknown circumstances, Vugar Rza - in Belgium, Huseyn Bakihanov - in Tbilisi. There were no witnesses in each of the three incidents, and the police hastily closed the criminal case.  There were two attempts on the life of  the blogger Mohammed Mirzali living in Europe. Recently, the French police arrested two people sent to kill him. One of those arrested is a citizen of Azerbaijan, the other is a citizen of Moldova. In total, more than five people were arrested in connection with the assassination attempt on Muhammad Mirzali, of whom at least three are Azerbaijanis. Other bloggers who harshly criticized the Azerbaijani authorities and the Aliyev family were also subjected to pressure. Political immigrants are also prosecuted in Europe. Rovnag Abdullayev and other senior SOCAR officials are suing political activists in Europe. For example, in Switzerland, a complaint was filed with the Swiss prosecutor's office against political emigrant and blogger Fuad Agayev. Unexpectedly, the prosecutor's office took steps towards the arrest of Fuad Agayev, who was effectively deprived of the right to protection. His lawyer and translator were not admitted to the investigation, his home address was handed over to the Azerbaijani authorities. In various European countries, including Germany, we held actions in defense of Fuad Agayev. The action at the Swiss Embassy in Berlin caused a resonance, and the issue was discussed in Parliament. After that, the criminal case against Fuad Agayev was dropped.

Q: Who, where and howpersecute the Azerbaijani dissidents? What steps are local governments taking to protect them?

Answer: Azerbaijani political dissidents are mainly concentrated on the territory of the European Union. Unfortunately, murders, crimes, threats, trials and arrests through Interpol take place on the territory of the European Union. Especially in Germany and France, where we are witnessing much more negative developments. On July 10, the car of blogger Orhan Agayev, who lives in Berlin, was smashed and he was warned. Eastern Europe cannot be considered a country without fear for Azerbaijani political emigrants, with the exception of the Baltic countries. Of the well-known political emigrants, Dashga Agalarly was arrested in Poland, Fikret Huseynov - in Ukraine. Every emigrant who harshly criticizes the Azerbaijani authorities, is engaged in political activities in Europe, is the goal of the Aliyev regime. I don't need to name specific names here. What's in the target is obvious.

Q: Can persecution include such issues as the return of political emigrants to their countries or their arrest? If so, then it turns out that part of the State Department note is addressed to governments that expel political emigrants to their countries?

Answer: In accordance with international conventions, persons who have been persecuted for political reasons in their own country cannot be deported. Unfortunately, in Germany we are witnessing the deportation of political emigrants from Azerbaijan. Of those deported, five people have already been arrested. Four of them, Mutallim Orujov, Malik Rzayev, Jafar Mirzoyev and Punhan Karimli, were arrested on charges of selling drugs, and Samir Ashurov was arrested on charges of causing grievous bodily harm. Each of those arrested stated that they had been tortured. Rashad Ramazanov, a journalist who returned from abroad to Azerbaijan, was also arrested on charges of selling drugs. The arrest of the deportees is in the focus of attention of the US Embassy in Azerbaijan and the State Department. The State Department expressed concern about the arrest of Mutallim Orujev. And this problem is reflected in the annual report. No doubt the US is discussing the issue of political immigrants with the EU and other countries.

Q: What steps should be taken in general to make it comfortable and safe for dissidents to live in any country?

Answer: The safe residence of dissidents depends on the authorities of their chosen countries. Of course, the country of asylum cannot provide special protection for every immigrant. It's impossible. Those in danger are under special protection. Such protection was also provided to Azerbaijani immigrants. But there are dissidents from the category that are constantly under protection. The main problem is that countries scrutinize asylum applications and make fair decisions. In many cases, we are witnessing unfair decisions. Immigrants in danger, on the other hand, also need to keep themselves safe. They should not walk alone, they must stay away from casual acquaintances. The main issue is that dictators who persecute their political opponents must be punished immediately. We cannot turn a blind eye to the bloody deeds of dictators because of energy resources and strategic interests.