Helsinki Commission criticized latest attacks on civil society

The US Congressional Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, known as a Helsinki Commission, on Tuesday called on the Azerbaijani government to respect the rule of law and its human rights commitments, amid the latest sentencing of eight youth activists, the detention of leading journalists and human rights advocates.

Regarding the trial of the NIDA activists, Senator Ben Cardin (MD), Chairman of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, stated: “The entirety of the legal proceedings against these young men is troubling not only for the lack of coherence in the government’s case, but also because there are credible allegations that the arrests and the subsequent charges are politically motivated and aimed at silencing criticism of the government. I am extremely concerned at the imposition of these lengthy sentences and am anxious for the health and well-being of these young men who are on hunger strike. I call on the Azerbaijani government to review the cases for prosecutorial misconduct and ensure that the rule of law and justice is carried out in these cases.”

Congressman Chris Smith, Helsinki Commissionco-chairman, also expressed his concern about the arrest of journalist Rauf Mirqadirov on charges of spying for Armenia, as well as the detention and investigation of Leyla Yunus and her husband, Arif Yunus. “These detentions follow a string of guilty verdicts in similar cases against critics of the government. This is a troubling pattern.”

Smith urged Azeri government to “review these proceedings with a view toward releasing the eight activists – and to recommit itself to the rule of law. The OSCE has many times demonstrated the validity of its founding idea – that respect for human rights fosters stability and security.”

The young men, Shahin Novruzlu, Mammad Azizov, Bakhtiyar Guliyev, Rashad Hasanov, Uzeyir Mammadli, Rashadat Akhundov, Zaur Gurbanlı and Ilkin Rustamzada were sentenced yesterday to prison terms ranging from six to 8 years on charges related to weapons and drug possession, charges that are widely believed to be fabricated as a means to intimidate and silence them. All eight activists have been in pre-trial detention for over one year and started a hunger strike in protest of their detention and the charges brought against them, according to the Helsinki Commission statement.

The authors also mentioned that Mirqadirov is a well-respected journalist who writes critically of many governments, including Azerbaijan. He was arrested after being deported from Turkey to Azerbaijan, and has since been charged by the Azerbaijani government with espionage. Leyla Yunus is the founder and director of the Peace and Democracy Institute and long-time human rights advocate who has been vocal about promoting people-to-people ties with Armenia.

Later last week the Helsinki Commission listed Azerbaijan among 6 OSCE countries where media freedom is deteriorating.

“The status of press and media in Azerbaijan is decidedly not free. Criminal defamation is still punishable with up to three years in prison…” the commission announced. “Media and NGO movements that aim to create space for media freedom have been checked at every turn, through various techniques ranging from ignoring lawsuits seeking access to information, to pressing criminal charges on journalists.”

Journalists in Ukraine, Turkey, Macedonia, Kazakhstan and Croatia are also suffering from the governments’ pressure, according to the Commission.

A.Raufoglu

Washington, DC