Human rights violations will continue amid a pandemic - R. Safarov

Baku/29.12.20/Turan: In Azerbaijan, in 2020, as in previous years, fundamental rights and freedoms, especially political ones, were violated. This opinion was expressed in an interview with the Azerbaijani service "Voice of America" ​​by the executive director of the NGO "Line of Defense" Rufat Safarov.

In 2020, severe restrictions on rights and freedoms were covered by a quarantine regime due to the coronavirus pandemic. “Unfortunately, the Azerbaijani authorities, instead of protecting the socio-economic rights of the country's citizens, have further intensified the criminal prosecution of dissidents.

In March, several opposition members, including the well-known politician Tofig Yagublu, were arrested on trumped-up charges,” Safarov said.

In July, a group of individuals was prosecuted for exercising their right to freedom of assembly. Thus, 36 people were arrested for participating in a demonstration in support of the army. Safarov believes that in a pandemic, the authorities should try to prevent an increase in the number of prisoners. It is necessary to minimize pre-trial arrests, to practice parole, like all democratic states.

“Unfortunately, Azerbaijan does not follow this path. And even the possibility of a wide pardon on the occasion of the Day of Solidarity of the World Azerbaijanis did not take place,” Safarov said.

The "Line of Defense" calls on the authorities to issue urgently an act of pardon and release, among others, arrested and convicted journalists, bloggers, believers, prisoners of conscience, and activists of opposition parties.

Safarov also considers it necessary in 2021 to carry out legal and democratic reforms, ensure an atmosphere of freedom of elections, independence of the courts, and the realization of freedom of assembly, expression, and the media. -03D06-