"Over the past 3 months, human rights, especially political freedoms, have been grossly violated"

The human rights organization "Line of Protection" has published a report on the state of human rights in Azerbaijan for June, July and August 2023. The co-founder of the human rights organization "Line of Protection" Rufat Safarov tells about the report of ASTNA.

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Question: As a human rights organization, “Line of Protection”  published a report on the state of human rights in Azerbaijan for June, July, August 2023. What conclusions did you come to in the report?

Answer: The conclusion we have come to is that during these 3 months the requirements of the Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights have not been practically observed in the country. Human rights, especially political freedoms, have been grossly violated.

The fundamental human and civil rights and freedoms enshrined in chapter III of the Constitution were violated - equality of all before the law and the court, fair justice, protection of honor and dignity, the right to a safe life, a healthy environment, freedom of assembly, freedom of conscience, speech and opinion, press and information, illegal punishments are widespread. The State has not ensured the protection of the rights and freedoms of every citizen. The right to participate in the political life of society and the state was accompanied by restrictions.

The Azerbaijani government has not shown interest in legal and political aspects, on the contrary, it has expanded repressive measures against critics. Democratic governance was alien to the branches of government. The State authorities have not shown interest in the development of civil society, free media, independent human rights institutions, and the political system as a whole. The strengthened authoritarianism, not limited by any rights, became the basis of state and public life. The influence of the supreme executive power over the parliament and the courts has increased.

Question: Does the report give space to recent political arrests?

Answer: Yes. In the report, we indicated that over the past 3 months, cases of torture, treatment, degrading human dignity, and inhuman treatment have become more frequent in the country. The number of political prisoners exceeded 200 people. Violent interference in private life, restriction of freedom of expression, the press, criminalization of defamation, arrests of journalists, public activists, human rights defenders, political figures, leaders of opposition parties, economists, emigrant activists, have become commonplace.

Harsh repressive measures were taken against believers, in particular, members of the “Muslim Unity” Movement. Although the arrested believers, as a rule, were accused of drug trafficking, they appeared in the government-controlled written and electronic media as "spies", "traitors to the state". At the preliminary and judicial investigation, the attention was drawn to "witness", as a type of evidence, the testimony of operatives, persons who "served" outside the state in police departments.

The system of political and diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and Iran has entered a tense phase, and in parallel, Shiite believers who do not agree with the prevailing policy were isolated from society on the basis of falsified accusations, were subjected to mental and physical violence during detention. In some cases, detained believers were threatened with rape.

Question: Are the points related to the impact of negative phenomena in public administration on human rights included in the report?

Answer: The report indicates that corruption in the state apparatus has acquired a systemic character, the National Action Plan to strengthen the fight against corruption for 2022-2026 is formally declarative. The law "On Combating Corruption" in force since January 1, 2005, as well as the "Rules for the submission of financial information by officials" were not observed. the information specified in paragraph 3.1 of these Rules-declarations of property, financial and property obligations of officials and their family members were not published in open sources. The result of this is that Azerbaijan ranked 157th among 180 countries in the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) of Transparency International, an international Transparency Organization.

Question: What did you say about the changes made to the legislation that also caused discontent?

Answer: It was noted that after the entry into force of the new law "On Political Parties", criticized by the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, additions were made to the Code of Administrative Offences to establish fines. From now on, individuals will be fined from 700 to 1000 manats for committing any actions related to the activities of the party, including for making decisions or signing documents by the bodies (structures) of the political party, the validity of which has expired.

The entry into force of these and similar reactionary legal norms means that the policy has acquired a permissive nature, sanctioning, which has caused serious concern about the realization of the right to freedom of association, freedom of association, freedom of speech, which are the basis for the functioning of a democratic society.

Question: In the final of the report, the “Line of Protecion” appealed to the Government of Azerbaijan. What does this appeal contain?

Answer: That's right. At the end of the report, we appealed to the Government of Azerbaijan. In this appeal, we asked the Government of Azerbaijan to ensure a democratic system, to create a balance between the executive, legislative and judicial authorities, to achieve the establishment of a civil society, to create a rule-of-law state ensuring the rule of law as the expression of the will of the people, the real equality of all before the law and the court, the implementation of fair justice, freedom of assembly, the elimination of subjective obstacles and interference of state bodies freedom of conscience, speech and expression, press and information. We also asked to stop illegal punishments.