Civil society activists condemn the authorities" plans to increase the period of administrative arrests
A group of civil society activists have issued a statement condemning the presentation to Parliament of the draft amendments to the Code of Administrative Offences (CAO), providing for an increase in terms of administrative arrest. They believe the proposed innovations restrictive and negatively impact the human rights situation in Azerbaijan.
The statement reads that the Prosecutor General, Zakir Garalov, a legislative initiative submitted to the Parliament draft amendments to the Articles 298.1 and 298.2 of the Administrative Code. They include an increase in the maximum term of administrative arrest from 15 days to 60 days for violation of the rules of holding rallies.
In addition, the proposed amendment to Article 310 of the Administrative Code, which suggests an increase in the term of arrest for non-submission to the police 15 days to 30 days.
In democratic countries for these offenses people are not arrested, but Azerbaijan has increased detention terms and penalties against activists and repression of protests on the eve of presidential elections, the authors of the appeal believe.
In their view, for the implementation of these amendments there is no legal basis or a social order.
Increased penalties will cause damage to the already negative international image of Azerbaijan.
Thus, in the course of discussions on April 30 at the session of the UN Human Rights Situation in Azerbaijan more than 160 recommendations to improve the situation in this area were made.
In January 2013 PACE adopted a resolution criticizing the situation in the country's human rights.
Leading international human rights organizations also criticize Azerbaijan for human rights violations.
Under such a situation, instead of improving the situation, the Azerbaijani authorities take further reaction steps in violation of its international obligations. The authors of the appeal called on the Azerbaijani authorities to withdraw the bill from parliament.
They also called on the international community to express attitude to the amendments and require the authorities of Azerbaijan respect their international obligations.
Appeal was signed by the leaders of a group of human rights, journalism, youth organizations and the media, including Rasul Jafarov, Anar Mammadov, Leyla Yunus, Leyla Aliyeva, Samir Kazimly, Rovshan Hajiyev, Emin Huseynov, Intiqam Aliyev Mirvari Gahramanli, Zia Guliyev, Ulvi Hasanli, Mehman Aliyev, Ilgar Ibrahimoglu, Rashid Hajily, Mirali Huseynov, Hafiz Hasanov, Fuad Hasanov, Irada Cavadova.-06D—
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