Human Rights Activists Condemn Violations of Rights of Detainees in Connection with July 15 Rally

 Baku / 18.07.20 / Turan: A group of representatives of civil society and human rights defenders issued a statement in connection with the "Karabakh action" on July 14-15, its dispersal and the detention of participants.

The statement released on Saturday noted that the escalation of the situation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border as a result of the violation of the ceasefire by the Armenian Armed Forces, which resulted in casualties among the military and civilians, caused outrage among the residents of the country.

 In Baku, on the evening of July 14 and on the night of the 15th, mass rallies took place, which mainly took place in peaceful form.

However, a small group among those gathered in front of the parliament, having made a provocation, entered the building of the Milli Mejlis, which caused tensions between the police and citizens.
In addition, some individuals overturned police cars and so contributed to the growth of tension.

The authors of the statement believe that the police, using disproportionate force, dispersed the audience in front of the parliament, using rubber bullets, water cannons, and tear gas. Following this, starting in the morning hours during the day of July 15, arrests were made.

“Despite the fact that official information about the identity and number of detainees was not provided, from information from various sources, it can be assumed that about 70 people were delivered to the police departments,” the statement says.
The authors considered it unreasonable to detain the journalists who were filming the action, Anar Abdullah and Firudin Salimov, as well as the public activist Elvin Jabizadeh, who was not at all in front of the parliament.
At the same time, the activists regarded as political discrimination the detention of members of the Popular Front Party Asif Yusifli, Seymour Ahmedzadeh, Muhammad Imanli and Elvin Mammadov, and a representative of the NIDA movement Elgiz Gahraman, who participated in the rally.

The authors of the statement condemned the persecution of representatives of opposition organizations. They also condemned the detention of most of the detainees at police stations for more than 48 hours in cramped rooms, unsanitary conditions, and not providing them with an opportunity to meet with lawyers and family members.

Due to poor conditions, the health condition of photojournalist Firudin Salimov worsened, so he was called an ambulance to the police station.

“We consider it unacceptable and illegal to treat those detained at the rally on July 14-15. This is contrary to the Constitution and national legislation, as well as the European Convention on Human Rights. We call on the Azerbaijani authorities to respect freedom of assembly, expression, the right to freedom and fair trial, hold a fair trial against detainees in connection with the rally, identify and punish people who cast a shadow over the peaceful rally of citizens,” the statement concluded.
The statement was signed by human rights activists Anar Mammadli, Fuad Hasanov, Shahla Ismail, Ziya Guliyev, Rasul Jafarov, Bashir Suleymanly, public activists Bakhtiyar Hajiyev, Sevil Yuzbasheva, Ilgar Huseynli, Ainura Abdullaeva, expert Sabit Bagirov, head of the NGO Movement for Democracy and Prosperity Gubad Ibadoglu, head of the NGO Young Leaders Sabina Alekperova, environmental expert Elchin Sultanov, military analyst Jasur Mammadov, and others.   –21В-