On 2 August it came to Civil Rights Defenders attention that the Azeri journalist, human rights defender and Natalia Project bearer Rasul Jafarov had been arrested in Baku. He will be held in a pre-trial detention for up to three months. The charges against him are tax evasion, illegal commercial activity and abuse of authority.
"We are shocked and dismayed at what seems to be an attack on Rasul Jafarov for his activities as a human rights defender. Civil Rights Defenders call on the authorities in Azerbaijan to provide a safe environment for all human rights defenders that enables them to perform their important work", says Robert Hårdh, Executive Director at Civil Rights Defenders.
At this early stage it appears that the charges are related to Rasul Jafarov’s activities as chairman and founder of the Human Rights Club (HRC), an NGO which the Azerbaijan government has continually prevented from registering since its establishment in 2010 — a tactic that seems intended to hinder their work and silence their opposition to human rights abuses.
The arrest of Rasul Jafarov comes on the heels of the arrest earlier this week of fellow Azeri human rights defender Leyla Yunus. In May, Anar Mammadli, founder of the Election Monitoring and Democracy Studies Center (EMDS), was sentenced to five years in prison on the same charges Rasul Jafarov is now being held on.
About Rasul Jafarov:
As the chairman of the HRC, Rasul Jafarov coordinated the “Sing for democracy” campaign which used Eurovision Song Contest to improve human rights awareness in Azerbaijan. During this massive pan-European contest, “Sing for Democracy” elicited significant international attention to human rights violations in Azerbaijan. In December 2012, “Sing for Democracy” was expanded and rebranded; “Art for Democracy,” which Rasul Jafarov continues to coordinate.
Additionally, Rasul Jafarov was responsible in the, “Expression Online Initiative,” which used the Internet Governance Forum in Baku, November 2012, a platform to monitor, protect and influence the exercise of freedoms in cyberspace. This campaign continues to expand internet freedoms by protecting online activists, streamlining and initiating new internet-freedom legislation, as well as practical solutions to protect internet rights.-0-
Politics
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A candidate in the municipal elections for the 23rd Nasimi-Sabail electoral district, activist Djamila Alisheva, has reported administrative barriers in conducting her campaign. She claims that the district election commission is refusing to provide the necessary forms for her authorized representatives.
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On January 15, the Tbilisi Court of Appeals rejected the appeal of Afghan Sadigov, the founder of the Azel TV website, who had protested his extradition to Azerbaijan. Sadigov’s wife, Sevinj Sadigova, stated that this was the final judicial instance in Georgia making a decision on the case, Turan reported. On the other hand, lawyer Mariam Kvelashvili informed Turan that the defense would continue legal steps to prevent the extradition of Afghan Sadigov. According to his wife, Afghan has been on hunger strike for 117 days, and his health is critical.
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Jamil Hajiyev, a member of the National Council of Democratic Forces, has reported continued pressure from the police. On January 10, during the trial of opposition figure Tofig Yagublu at the Baku Serious Crimes Court, Hajiyev unfurled a banner reading "Freedom for Political Prisoners!"
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On January 15, the Yasamal District Court rejected the motion to change the detention measure for Azer Gasymly, the director of the Institute of Political Management, his lawyer, Agyl Laidj, to Turan. "Azer Gasymly stated during the trial that the charges against him were fabricated and related to his socio-political activities," the lawyer said. An appeal will be filed against the court's decision.
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