IRFS: 2013 - the worst year in terms of human rights

"Azerbaijan is completing the worst year in terms of human rights, engaging in the New Year with dozens of political prisoners and prisoners of conscience," said a statement of the Institute of Reporters Freedom and Safety.

In addition, in the past year, the law was introduced a series of restrictive changes, was made illegal interference in the activities of NGOs and were harassed journalists and activists.

Nine journalists, two bloggers and three human rights defenders marked the New Year behind the bars.

They were arrested for political reasons during the implementation of their right to freedom of expression and assembly.

The head of the Election Monitoring and Democracy Training Center (EMDTC) Anar Mammadli will not be able to celebrate the New Year at large either. He was arrested for the fact that, being in the monitoring of the presidential election on October 9, he denounced violations of the law. Three counts charged in the aggregate Mammadli to face imprisonment up to 16 years.

The statement contains the names of 25 opposition activists, journalists and bloggers contained in prison for political reasons. Among them are the head of the movement REAL Ilgar Mamedov, the deputy chairman of the party Musavat Tofig Yagublu, the chief editor of Tolyshi Sado Hilal Mamedov, seven young activists of NIDA, a member of the organization Free Youth Ilkin Rustamzade, etc.

In conclusion, the statement calls on the authorities to respect their international obligations in the field of fundamental freedoms, release all political prisoners, stop putting pressure on journalists and civil society activists. -1606D –