PPFA calls for sanctions against Azerbaijani authorities for violations of rights and freedoms of citizens

Baku/14.08.23/Turan: The Party of People's Front of Azerbaijan calls on the democratic international community to take punitive measures against the authoritarian regime of Azerbaijan.

"The regime of Ilham Aliyev stubbornly wants to turn Azerbaijan into a country like North Korea, and the international community is obliged to prevent this," the country's opposition party said in a statement.

The document was adopted due to the latest facts of repression against couriers and activists of independent trade unions. In particular, with regard to members of the independent Trade Union Confederation.

"The reason is that they protect the violated rights of couriers who deliver orders on mopeds. On August 1, a group of couriers objected to traffic police officers stopping their mopeds and taking them to the penalty parking lot. Immediately after this protest, the chairman of the board Afiyaddin Mammadov was arrested for 30 days of administrative arrest. In the following days, Aykhan Israfilov and Elvin Mustafayev, also members of the management board, were arrested on charges of receiving, storing and selling drugs.

The PPFA considers the official charges against the arrested activists to be false and claims that these individuals have been targeted because of their public activities.

"The regime of Ilham Aliyev, known for its strict authoritarianism and repressive habits, considers any organizations and protests beyond its control as a great threat. The independent Trade Union Confederation, which protects the rights of workers, in particular couriers, has become the object of persecution," the document says.

The PPFA strongly condemns these repressions and demands the release of those arrested.

Herewith, the PPFA demanded to put an end to the hostile attitude towards the opposition and independent socio-political forces in the country. In recent months, a large number of politicians and public figures, as well as believers, including the world-famous professor and politician Gubad Ibadoglu, have been arrested for political reasons.

At present, there are 8 PPFA activists in prisons. -0-