The sentencing of three civil society activists in Baku on 26 May is the latest in a worrying trend of pressure on civil society in Azerbaijan. This case follows the recent sentencing of NIDA youth activists and political opposition figures earlier this year, reads UK Foreign office and commonwealth office press release.
A Foreign Office Spokesperson said:
The Foreign Office is deeply disappointed by the sentencing of Anar Mammadli, Bashir Sulemanli and Elnur Mammadov to up to five and a half years in prison, following allegations of tax evasion, illegal business activities, and abuse of authority.
This case has highlighted once again the concerns felt by many about the selective application of the rule of law in Azerbaijan. Independent election monitors play an important role in promoting a democratic society and they should be allowed to conduct their work without fear of intimidation.
The UK calls on Azerbaijan to respect the principles of justice and reverse this worrying trend. -0-
Politics
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On 26 July "Platform III of the Republic" made a statement which drew attention to the unlawful seizure of electronic devices of underage children of the arrested head of this structure Akif Gurbanov.
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From 19 to 26 July, 24 automatic rifles, 1 machine gun, 9 rifles, 28 grenades, 441 shells, 3118 cartridges of different calibre and other ammunition were found in Khankendi, the Azerbaijani Interior Ministry reported. During the mentioned period, the police found 1 machine gun, 50 grenades, 7 fuses, 3 shells and 320 cartridges of different calibre in Shusha.
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President Ilham Aliyev has approved by decree the Azerbaijan-Kazakh intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in military intelligence defense sector. The document was signed in Baku on 7 June 2024.
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At the trial of the opposition politician Tofig Yagublu, the statement of Elnur Vaqifoglu, another accused, was heard at the Baku Serious Crimes Court.
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