Nils Muzhnieks sends comments to the European Court in the case of Intigam Aliyev

Commissioner for Human Rights Nils Muzhnieks sent comments to the European Court of Human Rights in the case of human rights activist Intigam Aliyev. Office of the Commissioner extended this document, consisting of 50 points. The preamble of the document expresses concern for the situation of human rights defenders in Azerbaijan. It is noted that there is widespread prosecution of critical voices. Commissioner recalls his meeting in October 2014 with a human rights defender Intigam Aliyev in jail Kurdakhani. In the view of Muzhnieks, human rights problems are not solved in Azerbaijan, despite numerous efforts by international organizations.

During visits and continuous monitoring Commissioner identified a number of serious shortcomings in Azerbaijan in the field of freedom of speech, expression, assembly and association. Muzhnieks concludes that the government of Azerbaijan is not in compliance with its international obligations to ensure these rights and freedoms. The Commissioner urges the authorities to respect these rights and to release those arrested for their expression. He is also concerned about the arbitrary application  of arrests in Azerbaijan as a proactive measure.

"A preventive measure, arrest, has turned into a punitive tool against disagree," said Muzhnieks.

He noted that after the case of Aliyev  he would send to  the court his observations on human rights defenders Anar Mammadov, Rasul Jafarov, Leila and Arif Yunus.

"This persecution must be stopped immediately, and persons arrested for their views and civic activism must be released,"  said  the Commissioner in his remarks.

He also pointed out that Intigam Aliyev since 2001, presented to the European Court of Human Rights more than 200 applications on the complaints of citizens of Azerbaijan. On some of them have already  been made decisions which confirms the fact of violation of the rights guaranteed by the European Convention on Human Rights.

Recently, the European Court started communication on 20 of the 40 complaints against  the parliamentary elections in 2010. Aliyev regularly informed the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe and the European Court  about the course of execution of judgments of the Strasbourg Court.

This is the second appeal by Muzhnieks on the cases of Azerbaijan to the ECHR.

Earlier, on 24 February he presented his comments in the case of the Chief Editor of "Tolyshi sado", Hilal Mamedov. -16d-