Government Abuses Quarantine Regime - Human Rights Defenders

Baku / 26.04.20 / Turan: The Committee against Repression and Torture issued a statement condemning the abuse by the Azerbaijani government of the quarantine regime imposed in connection with the Coronavirus pandemic to prosecute its political opponents.

“For 12 days now, the chairman of the Popular Front Party, a member of the Coordination Center of the National Council Ali Karimli and his family are completely isolated from the outside world - in fact, under house arrest. They are denied access to the Internet, their mobile and landline telephony are disabled. Access to official permission to leave the house is completely limited, and anyone who comes into contact with the family in any way - comes to the house, tries to provide them with food - is under surveillance, punished and arrested,” the statement said.

In particular, it is indicated that the journalist Tazakhan Miralamli, after visiting Karimli, was subjected to pressure from the Khatai police for this for 6 hours.

Another journalist Teymur Karimli after an interview with Karimli in his house, was subjected to physical attack. The journalist’s video camera was broken, and its memory card with the video interview with Karimli was taken. For visiting Karimli, his assistant Faig Amirli and volunteer bodyguards Ruslan Amirov and Nizameddin Ahmedov were arrested.

During the period of the social isolation and quarantine regime, trumped-up criminal cases were launched against five activists and journalists. Among them are Tofig Yagublu, Elvin Muradov, Elchin Mammad, Alizamin Salayev and Tazakhan Miralamli. Four of them were arrested.

The activist of the Popular Front Party, Aghil Humbatov, was forcibly placed in a mental hospital, despite the fact that he is completely mentally healthy.

Another 35 people were sentenced for political reasons to administrative arrests and fines, and some of them were tortured.

The Committee Against Repression and Torture regards the above as “psychological terror” of the government against its political opponents. The Committee demanded the removal of the “blockade” around Karimli and the release of all those arrested for political reasons.

The Committee against Repression and Torture called on the international democratic community, including international organizations to which Azerbaijan is a party, the leading world powers and their embassies in Baku not to remain indifferent and to raise a voice of protest against the total attack on human rights in Azerbaijan. — 06D-