Ali Aliyev Defense Committee Appeals to International Organizations

Baku/29.01.22/Turan: The Committee for the Protection of the Rights of the Chairman of the Citizens and Development Party (PGR) Ali Aliyev appealed to international organizations to intervene in order to secure his release from prison.

On January 13, the Yasamal District Court of Baku  sentenced  Ali Aliyev to five months in prison on charges of slander. The lawsuit was filed by an officer of the Border Service Emil Jafarov. The reason for the lawsuit was Aliyev's interview, where he doubted that there could be survivors in the crashed Mi-17 helicopter of the Border Service. Jafarov and another officer, who survived the crash, regarded Aliyev's statement as slander.

The authors of the message express concern about the persecution of critics of the authorities in Azerbaijan for their views, opinions, dissent on fabricated administrative and criminal charges, and their isolation from society.

"We are deeply concerned about the diversification of the repressive policy pursued by the government of Ilham Aliyev, the strengthening of authoritarian tendencies, the transformation of political persecution into everyday life, the rejection of democratic forms of government," the committee's statement says.

The authors of the document emphasize that the civil society activists of Azerbaijan, who are fighting for democracy in difficult conditions, are disappointed by the delay in the adequate response of international human rights institutions, centers of political power to the violent actions of the regime, and the lack of condemnation of repressions against dissidents.

Regarding the criminal prosecution of Ali Aliyev, the authors of the appeal state with regret that the principles of fair justice, equality of arms, the right to defense, objectivity and impartiality of the court were not observed during the trial. The defense was given only thirty minutes to familiarize themselves with the case file. The accused Ali Aliyev was even deprived of his last word.

Despite the deterioration of Aliyev's health in the courtroom, a sharp increase

blood pressure, the necessary medical care was not provided to him.

Members of the Committee for the Protection of Aliyev's Rights emphasize that he has recently sharply, but within the framework of ethics, criticized the government's measures in the economic, legal, military, social and other spheres.

Shortly before his arrest, Ali Aliyev was summoned to the General Prosecutor's Office, where he was issued a warning for speaking on social networks.

In addition, together with journalist Elchin Rahimzade, Ali Aliyev was detained by the State Security Service.

The Committee believes that Aliyev was arrested unlawfully, not on the basis of the judge's legal will, but on the personal instructions of President Ilham Aliyev.

At the same time, they point out that there is no real balance between the branches of power in Azerbaijan, the courts depend on the executive branch, it is ignored law supremacy.

The authors of the appeal are convinced that the statements of Ali Aliyev, for which he was arrested, fully comply with the freedom of expression guaranteed by the Constitution of Azerbaijan (Article 47), the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Article 19), the International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights (Article of the European Convention on Human Rights (Article 10).

Committee members draw attention to the fact that on February 4, the court hearing of the lawsuit against Aliyev of another officer who survived the helicopter crash, Ramin Abilov, is scheduled.

Taking into account the  absence of sufficient public protest against the unjustified persecution of Ali Aliyev and the adequate reaction of authoritative international structures, democratic institutions in the West and Europe, “fertile ground is being created for new repressive measures by the government of Azerbaijan” against the leader of the PGR and other opposition and public activists.

In conclusion of the appeal, the committee members call on international structures, democratic institutions of the West not to remain indifferent to the persecution of champions of human rights and democracy in Azerbaijan, critics of the ruling regime, to actively intervene in the processes around Ali Aliyev, in order to stop his criminal prosecution, as well as ensure the right of citizens to freely participate in the public and state life of the country.

The Ali Aliyev Rights Protection Committee includes about 150 political and public figures of the country, civil activists, journalists and human rights activists.-06B-