Baku / 20.04.20 / Turan: The disconnection of the Internet and telephone communications to the Popular Front Party leader Ali Karimli caused criticism among political and public figures of the country.
“The authorities preferred strict prohibitions and repressive measures, fines and arrests instead of adequate social assistance to the population and were unable to take the necessary measures to save small and medium-sized businesses. The repressions against the political opposition were met with great dissatisfaction by the Azerbaijani society and the international community,” said the leader of the Musavat party Arif Hajili on his Facebook page.
“I strongly condemn the arrest of Tofig Yagublu on trumped-up charges, followed by pressure on many political activists, journalists, members of the Popular Front party and its leader Ali Karimli.
I urge the Azerbaijani government to refrain from confrontational steps in society and put an end to political persecution,” Hajili said.
Attorney Fuad Agayev considers the deprivation of Ali Kerimli and his family members of the Internet and telephone access a violation of several articles of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.
“The arrest of several Ali Karimli's assistants, and his deprivation of means of communication does not occur even in such autocratic countries as Russia. The application of these restrictions can be considered as a continuation of psychological pressure on a person who has not been issued a passport for many years, despite the decision of the European Court of Human Rights. A government that considers itself strong should not use such methods,” Agayev said.
The Democracy and Welfare Movement, in a statement, called on the authorities to put an end to the abuse of the quarantine regime for political purposes and to restore access to the media and communication for the PFPA chairman, as well as release Tofig Yagublu and all other political activists and journalists imprisoned.
The coordinator of the Committee against Repression and Torture, Namizad Safarov, called the government’s actions against Ali Karimli a gross violation of public order and a demonstrative disrespect for society, which qualifies as hooliganism.
Public activist Bakhtiyar Hajiyev believes that disconnecting telephone and Internet communications for Ali Karimli is a sign of fear and concern of the authorities. Ali Karimli has been banned from leaving the country for several years, but now people close to him are sent to a psychiatric hospital or arrested for violating the quarantine regime.
The harsh rhetoric of the country's leadership against opposition leaders is further evidence of the government’s fear of citizen discontent. Authorities fear rising dissatisfaction in the coming months due to economic and social problems and therefore, put pressure on the opposition, the activist writes on his Facebook page.
Official state bodies have not yet commented on the disconnection of the Internet and telephone communications of Karimli. At the same time, Interior Ministry spokesman Ehsan Zahidov said that in case of problems with the Internet and telephone communications, Karimli should contact the providers of these services.
As for the arrested members of the PFPA, the Ministry of Internal Affairs stated that not one of them was arrested for political reasons, but for violating the quarantine regime. —03D06-
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