Institute for Peace and Democracy condemns massive repression in Azerbaijan

Baku/28.07.20/Turan: Many dictators in the authoritarian countries use the pandemic COVID-19 to suppress the dissidents, freedom of speech and the opposition. The collapse in oil prices and the pandemic have caused serious socio-economic problems in Azerbaijan, which could provoke citizen protests. However, the authorities decided to exclude any civic activity through repression, reads the statement of the director of the Institute for Peace and Democracy Leila Yunus.

The arrests have been launched in March 2020. False criminal charges were brought against opposition leader Tofig Yagublu and dozens of activists from the leading opposition Popular Front party.

On July 12-16, clashes took place on the Armenian-Azerbaijani state border. As a sign of solidarity with the killed soldiers, thousands of people staged a march in the center of Baku on the evening of July 14. The authorities provoked clashes between citizens and the police in order to bring dozens of oppositionists to justice. The video, filmed by journalists, clearly shows the State Security Service officers, in particular Major General Rauf Khalafov (the president's cousin), who is one of the first to enter the parliament building, whose doors suddenly opened.

It can be clearly seen that demonstrators, including officers of the State Security Service, enter the foyer of the parliament and then leave it. There was nothing damaged or broken.

However, on July 21, Ilham Aliyev accused the opposition of preparing a coup d'etat, which, he said, began with the seizure of the parliament building.

After that, about 150 people were detained within  several days. They were severely beaten, tortured, demanding to testify about the upcoming coup. Dozens of citizens were brought to administrative charges and received from 15 to 60 days in custody.

Lawsuit were filed against 29 citizens on charges of violation of public order, resistance to government officials.

At present, the number of political prisoners in the country has reached 190, and the repression continues. Their number will continue to grow if the international community does not intervene, the statement said.

It should be reminded that the spouses Leyla and Arif Yunus were arrested and convicted in Azerbaijan on false charges. After several years in prison, they were released and the couple immigrated to the Netherlands, where they still live. -02D-