Freedom House: Azerbaijan"s Violent Crackdown on Human Rights Activists

In response to the brutal attack on Azerbaijani journalist and human
rights activist Ilgar Nasibov, Freedom House issued the following statement:

“The horrific physical assault on Ilgar Nasibov, a journalist, is the latest trauma in a rapidly and radically deteriorating human rights situation in Azerbaijan," said David J. Kramer, president of Freedom House.

"The Government of Azerbaijan seems determined to intimidate human rights activists and any critic of its actions, whether by arrest on false charges or beating, as has happened August 21 to Nasibov. President Ilham Aliyev is entirely wrong if he believes his government can go after its critics without consequences while the world’s attention is focused on other hot spots."

"He and his government should be held responsible for the dangerous and hostile environment they are promoting," Kramer said. "The United States and the European Union should consider sanctions against officials who authorize and carry out these horrific abuses.”

Azerbaijan is rated Not Free in Freedom in the World 2014, Not Free in Freedom of the Press 2014 and Partly Free in Freedom on the Net 2013. -02D-