More than 30 international organizations demand to stop the suppression of freedom in Azerbaijan

The international community must demand the release of those arrested in Azerbaijan for the implementation of their right to freedom of expression and assembly, reads a  joint statement of more than 30 international organizations.

From the beginning of the year, the government used repressive means to silence critical voices, including protesters, journalists and civil society activists.

A few days after the adoption of the PACE resolution condemning limit freedoms and unfair trials, the authorities arrested 70 peaceful demonstrators protesting against the corruption in the city of Ismailli and another rally in Baku.

Among those detained was a blogger Emin Milli, a human rights activist Malahat Nasibova, lawyer Intigam Aliyev, a journalist Khadija Ismayilova. A few more opponents were arrested for 13 days, and more than 20 demonstrators were fined a total of 3,000 manat for participation in  unauthorized  rally. 

On February 4 court arrested the head of the REAL Movement, Ilgar Mamedov, and deputy chairman  of "Musavat", Tofig Yagublu.

On February 12 two members of the project, funded by the European Union, USAID and NDI were detained in Khachmas region.

Harassment of journalists, writers and bloggers continues. Prosecutor tries to condemn journalist Avaz Zeynalli, editor of "Khural" on charges of tax evasion and racketeering, and Zeynalli can be imprisoned for 11 years.

Seventy five-year-old writer, Akram Aylisli, and its close relatives are persecuted by authorities after the publication of his novel "Stone dreams."

On February 14 the latest disturbing development  became the  creation  by the government-controlled Press Council,  a  Complaints Commission about the "breach of ethics" and hacker attacks on websites.

Probably, the  creation by the of the authorities an  Internet regulatory body will be a real step to stifle freedom of expression on the Internet.

This is a logical continuation of the statements of the National Broadcasting Company Nushiravan Maharramli about the need to regulate online TV through licensing. This will help to further censor the Internet, the statement said.

The international community should demand to drop all charges against Ilgar Mamedov, Tofig Yagublu and Avaz Zeynalli, to call on Baku authorities reject the persecution of dissidents and critics of the government,  reads the statement, which was signed by:

Article 19, Center for Civil Liberties (Ukraine), the Centre for Democracy and Human Rights (Russia), the Center for National and International Studies, Freedom Now, the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights (Poland), the Human Rights Centre of Azerbaijan, the Club of Human Rights, Human Rights House Foundation (HRHF), Index on Censorship, the International Partnership for Human Rights, Media Diversity Institute, the Norwegian Helsinki Committee, PEN International, Reporters Without Borders,

World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers and others. -02D-