Human Rights Activists Call on Authorities Not to Look for “Enemies of the Nation”

Baku / 27.04.20 / Turan: The Political Prisoners Monitoring Center of Azerbaijan (hereinafter referred to as the Center) condemned the Azerbaijani authorities in using a special quarantine regime for repressions against political and civil activists.

“Immediately after the announcement of quarantine, the following were arrested on trumped-up charges: member of the Musavat party, former “prisoner of conscience” Tofig Yagubou and human rights activist and editor-in-chief of the website Yukselish Namina, Elchin Mammad, who was sentenced to a prison term in a biased criminal case,” said the head of the Center Elshan Hasanov.

In addition, more than 10 members of the Popular Front Party were administratively arrested, and the party leader Ali Karimli was virtually cut off from communication with the outside world.

“All these actions were carried out by law enforcement agencies and are a gross violation of the law,” the statement said.

All these measures act only to the detriment of the country's image. Despite criticism from international organizations, authorities continue to pressure activists in violation of articles of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.

“We, former political prisoners, categorically protest against the division of society into “ours” and “enemies”. We demand an end to repressions against critics and dissidents and the release of unlawfully arrested people,” the statement said.

* The Center was established in October 2014 by a group of former “prisoners of conscience”. -06D-