The US Department of State expressed concern about the imposition of a sentence on the Azerbaijan rights defender Intigam Aliyev about his conviction to 7.5 years in prison and three-year ban to assume leadership positions. This was stated by the representative of the US Department of State Marie Harf.
"One of the most prominent human rights activists in Azerbaijan, chairman of the Legal Education Society Intigam Aliyev did much to ensure the rule of law and protection of peaceful activists. He sent hundreds of cases to the European Court of Human Rights and won many of them," said Harf.
The Department of State called on the Azerbaijani government to release Intigam Aliyev and other activists arrested for the use of the fundamental freedoms. "We also urge the Azerbaijani government to respect the commitments made in the framework of international agreements and ensure the rights of citizens," continued Harf.
In turn, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry spokesman Hikmet Hajiyev said that the arrest of Aliyev was "irrelevant" to his human rights activities. According to him, "Intigam Aliyev was accused of tax evasion and other illegal activities and his committing the offense was confirmed by the court decision."
According to Hajiyev, "no one is arrested for his professional activities or political affiliation in Azerbaijan." "Apparently, unlike other countries, the US Department of State with great attention keeps track of every judgment in Azerbaijan. If it goes on, we can expect attitude from the US Department of State to every criminal case in Azerbaijan," said Hajiyev.
A week earlier, the Department of State also condemned the conviction of another well-known human rights activist Rasul Jafarov.
Trials on Aliyev and Jafarov were tracked by representatives of the Embassies of the US, the EU and a number of European countries. The sentences on these cases have been criticized by international human rights organizations. According to Amnesty International, at least 20 “prisoners of conscience” are languishing in prisons of Azerbaijan. -03D06-
Politics
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Polad Aslanov, founder of the religious website xeberman.com, who went on hunger strike in the colony on 4 November, was forcibly transferred to the Penitentiary Service hospital in the evening of the same day. This was reported to Turan by his wife Gulmira Aslanov.
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The Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Azerbaijan is pleased to announce the preopening of the Ukrainian Center in Baku, scheduled for 9 November 2024 at 12 pm. The Ukrainian Center, originally established to promote Ukrainian culture, language, heritage and education in Azerbaijan, has been renovated and expanded to better serve its mission.
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The health condition of activist Nijat Ibrahim has sharply worsened while he remains in Baku's Detention Center No. 1, his wife Parvin Ibrahim told Turan news agency. According to her, Ibrahim called today to report severe back pain, and he can barely move. Recently, his blood pressure has also risen, and doctors have diagnosed him with hypertension.
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On Sunday, November 5, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Kyrgyzstan to participate in the 11th Summit of Heads of State of the Organization of Turkic States. Upon his arrival at Manas 2 International Airport in Bishkek, Aliyev was greeted with a ceremonial honor guard and welcomed by Kyrgyzstan’s Prime Minister and Chief of Staff, Akylbek Japarov, along with other officials.
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