Gubadoglu`s party called on the authorities to stop the repression and release political prisoners

Baku/12.10.23/Turan: The Board of the Azerbaijan Democracy and Welfare Party (ADWP) issued a statement condemning the "tightening of repression" in the country.

Repression has become an integral part of the country's governance mechanism. "In order to prolong its existence, the regime takes any illegal steps contrary to the Constitution of Azerbaijan and international legal acts in the field of human rights and freedoms, democratic principles," the  statement of the ADWP.

Instead of protecting law and order, the police and the prosecutor's office carry out arrests on politically motivated charges. The courts have become an appendage of the "Presidential administration and law enforcement agencies." The ADWP has applied for state registration as a political party six times, and has not always been refused by the Ministry of Justice.

The statement also points to the arrest of the head of the party, Gubad Ibadoglu, on far-fetched charges. His arrest was recognized as politically motivated not only by local human rights activists, but also by international structures. They called for the release of the politician: The UN Office for Human Rights, the US Congress, PACE, the international academic community, etc. 

However, the Azerbaijani authorities are determined to either break him, silence him, make him loyal to the regime, or physically destroy him, not allowing him to be treated in custody, the statement said.

Over the past month, Huseyn Malik, adviser to the chairman of the ADWP, Allahverdi Babayev, chairman of the Khazar district party branch, Vusal Zeynalov, a member of the Gazakh district branch, and Ruslan Alekperov, an activist of the Gadabey district branch, were also arrested administratively.

The same mass repressions take place against members of other opposition parties and believers. The ADWP calls on the authorities to stop repressions in the country, release Gubad Ibadoglu and other political prisoners, the statement concludes. ---06B---