A conference "Results of the situation with human rights in 2015"

A conference "Results of the situation with human rights in 2015" was held on Monday at the office of the Azerbaijan National Committee of Helsinki Civil Assembly.  The results of 2015 in the field of human rights in Azerbaijan were considered.

In contrast to 2014, which was marked by large-scale arrests of  civil society activists and political opponents  of the regime, the outgoing year was marked by the massive violation of social and economic rights of almost all the country's citizens. Wrong  economic policy has led to the devaluation of the manat, fall of living  standards of citizens; and the losses  were not  replaced by   the government. In accordance with the social guarantees provided by legislation. Indexation of wages and pensions was not carried out . By the end of the  year a situation even more aggravated after the second wave of devaluation.

According to Natig Jafarli, such a result was inevitable, as the entire economy and social sphere  are based on income from oil, and  thete was not a policy of differentiation of economy, and  the freedom of entrepreneurship was not provided. Until 2011, the governments  had every opportunity to change policy towards liberalization under  high income oil, but time was lost.

Instead, the following years, including the 2015, the authorities pursued a policy of toughening legislation on freedom of expression, religious and other freedoms, said Alekserli. Toughening  changes to the legislation allow  to close TV channels or media  within a few days. They  restrict service for persons who received education abroad, and more. All amendments run counter  the  international standards and are aimed at limiting freedom of citizens.   

2015, especially its second half, was marked by new arrests of civil activists, believers.  The number of political prisoners on the updated list has reached 93 people. Authorities also refused to  amnesty by the end of the year political prisoners, the release of which demanded the European Court and other institutions.

The situation in prisons continued to deteriorate, stated the report by Elshan Hasanov. There were torture, violations of prisoners' rights. Conditions in the places of detention were very bad. In prison designed for  four people,  are kept  six, eight, and even 10 people. Even worse is the situation in the  jails  the area of which is 30 square meters, where up to 20 people are kept. Toilets and  sinks are unusable.  The absence of hot water in winter  causes disease. Prisoners  are given bad food, and they are forced to eat food  brought from home. Meetings and telephone calls are for bribes.