SOS signal from democratic forces of Azerbaijan

Baku/20.12.13/Turan : About a hundred prominent civil society activists , politicians and journalists of Azerbaijan issued a joint message, denouncing the arrest Anar Mammadov, the head of the  Election Monitoring and Democratic Studies Center (EMDS) . They assess  his arrest as part of a massive campaign of the authorities , who avenge civil society.

Authors  of the  message  are convinced that Mammedli  is subjected to criminal prosecution for the implementation of projects for monitoring elections.

In 2011,  an odious Belarusian regime with  similar methods jailed a human rights defender, Ales Beliatski. After that , the official Minsk became the object of international condemnation and pressure.

The statement also reminded that Bashir Suleymanli, executive director of the EMDS,  and the  j head of the partner  NGO of the Public Association of NGOs of international cooperation of volunteers Elnur Mammadov are also convicted.

On December 17 In addition, the Parliament of Azerbaijan amended the law on NGOs , which became a continuation of the reaction changes made ​​in the last five years , and create serious barriers to civil society.

The target of attacks  by authorities  are also representatives of international NGOs. Thus, the activities of the  Norwegian Fund "House of Human Rights"  and  the U.S. National Democratic Institute  were paralyzed.  Audits began in several foreign NGOs. The purpose of this repression  is  to suppress critical voices in Azerbaijan.

Publications  in global and local media indicate that our economy was in the monopoly of high-ranking officials and their families, and  public funds  are flowing into the pockets of oligarchs.

International anti-corruption organizations and journalists have revealed high- transmission of  contracts in the mining industry to the  close relatives of the country's leadership . In addition, over the past 10 years billions of dollars have been withdrawn from   Azerbaijan  through various shady schemes.

The withdrawn Recover funds are then returned in high-income  spheres of the economy of the country through companies owned by family members of senior officials. The government turns a blind eye to this illegal activity and tax evasion in the budget.

Against this background, Anar Mammadov is charged with tax evasion. The arrest occurred on the eve of signing an investment contract for the project "Shah Deniz -2"; and in the day of the signing a reactionary amendments to the law on NGOs were made.

"We believe that this is a message of the Azerbaijani authorities to the West that by signing a new strategic agreement with the European Union, Baku rejects the values ​​of human rights,"  reads the statement.

The authorities also restrict freedom of information . For years, officials and their family members in violation of the law do not declare their income. Azerbaijan people  are  not declared the declaration   of property of  the president Ilham Aliyev who has been elected for the third term of presidency. 

Corruption prospers in the country,  are property  rights of citizens have been violated. Three fundamental principles of human rights and freedoms - freedom of expression , assembly and association have faced the threat of elimination.  The authors of the statement demand the violation of political prisoners. 

Authors of the appeal require the authorities to release all political prisoners , including Anar Mammadov.

Authors of the appeal believe that before the introduction in May 2014 in the chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of Azerbaijan should demonstrate respect for human rights. They call on the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe , PACE, CE Secretary General , Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, members of the Assembly and other structures CE to  express  attitude to  intolerance towards human rights in Azerbaijan.

"We appeal to all interested structures of the  CE to  call on the authorities  to fulfill their obligations in the field of human rights, and if they ignore this appeal, apply appropriate sanctions," reads the statement.

There is also an appeal  to PACE  calling before approving the mandate of the Azerbaijani delegation to demand that the government stop the repression and to release their victims.

They also call on the UN , the OSCE and the EU under  such a depressing situation  to provide all possible assistance to civil society activists in Azerbaijan. -06D –