Civil Society Protection Committee Condemns Persecution of Opposition in Run-up to Referendum

Baku / 24.09.16 / Turan: On September 24 there was a regular meeting of the Civil Society Protection Committee (CSPC). A CSPC member Elchin Hasanov told Turan the meeting discussed the situation of human rights in the run-up to the referendum on constitutional amendments.

Concern was expressed in connection with the call of the Chief Editor of the Tolyshi Sado (Voice of Talysh) paper Hilal Mamedov to the 25th police station of the Nizami district, pressure exerted on him there, and insults of him by an officer named Ehtibar. CSPC decided to appeal to Interior Minister Ramil Usubov with a call to investigate the fact of arbitrary actions of the police.

CSPC members also condemned the detentions, arrests and calls to the police of the participants of the September 17 opposition rally.

In general, the meeting criticized the lack of conditions for pluralistic discussion of the proposed amendments to the Constitution, and condemned the one-sided propaganda on television and radio in favor of the amendments. It was noted that the campaign for the referendum did not provide conditions for the free expression of the people's will.

It was decided to increase the effectiveness of CSPC efforts to protect human rights. It was also decided to reorganize the CSPC structure and accept new members.

CSPC was established in 2009 and then it included representatives of some 200 NGOs. Now, however, about 20 activists take part in its work. At the same time, there are also those who would like to join CSPC. -06D--