Baku/26.11.23/Turan: The International Human Rights Protection Association (IHRPA) issued a statement expressing concern about the arrests in Azerbaijan of the director of the online publication Abzas Media Ulvi Hasanli, its editor-in-chief Sevinj Vagifgizi, as well as activist Mohammed Kekalov .
The increase in arrests in Azerbaijan indicates increased pressure on independent activists and journalists, the IHRPA said in a statement.
“We believe that the arrests are related to Abzas Media’s investigation into corruption in the government of Azerbaijan,” the document further states.
“Independent journalists and bloggers are forced to self-censor or face government repression. At least six journalists and bloggers are currently in prison on politically motivated charges. Political authorities exercise almost complete control over traditional media such as television, radio and newspapers. In December 2021, Azerbaijan adopted a new law “On Media”, which gave the authorities the right to harshly punish media and journalists on minor grounds. Journalists must also be registered with the government and meet other strict requirements. The Venice Commission of the Council of Europe criticized the new law for not meeting international standards of freedom of expression,” notes the IHRPA.
The statement also points to the arrests of economist and politician Gubad Ibadoglu, journalist Avaz Zeynalli and public activist Bakhtiyar Hajiyev on false charges.
In conclusion, the IHRPA calls on the Azerbaijani authorities to release all these individuals and other political prisoners, and to stop persecuting citizens for exercising freedom of expression.
The statement recalls that the IHRPA was founded in 2013 in Belgium by a group of Azerbaijani activists. The organization is headed by former political prisoner and human rights activist Elchin Mammad.—06b-
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