Baku / 11.06.18 / Turan: Contrary to expectations, the situation with human rights in Azerbaijan has not improved and in the first half of the year positive changes did not occur; on the contrary, a new wave of repression followed, stated the semi-annual report of the Center for Monitoring Political Prisoners on the situation with human rights in Azerbaijan. Extraordinary elections were traditionally held in the atmosphere of pressure on the opposition, arrests and forcing the country in society.
In particular, on February 5, two activists of the movement "Muslim Unity" Samir Babayev and Mahir Guliyev were arrested administratively for 60 days. On February 27, the activist of the Movement "Muslim Unity", Revan Ismayilov, was arrested on charges of illegal drug trafficking on his return from the Russian Federation.
In addition, on the eve of the rally on March 10, opposition activists were administratively arrested a group of activists of the Popular Front Party, and more than 100 opposition members were summoned to the police and threatened.
Administrative arrests followed also on the eve of the rallies on March 31 and April 14.
After the rally on March 31, a young activist Fatima Movlamli disappeared. As it turned out, she was kept in the basement of the Main Directorate for Combating Organized Crime of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and was subjected to pressure. She was released five days after the story caused a great public response.
At the beginning of March, Mujahiktir police was beaten and then arrested for 30 days by Fuad Gurbanov, the brother of political emigrant Rashad Gurbanov, who participated in the protest action in front of the Azerbaijani embassy in France. Ilkin Guliyev, brother-in law of R.Gurbanov, was arrested for 30 days in the city of Sheki.
The wave of repression continued after the presidential elections. Thus, arrested for 30 days before the rally on March 31, activist Orkhan Bakhyshly, 10 days after his release, was again taken into custody. This time he was charged with illegal drug trafficking.
This happened after May 3, Bakhyshly on World Press Freedom Day, speaking at the grave of journalist Elmar Huseynov, accused of the murder of the Azerbaijani authorities.
On May 9, Mirzaifulla Seyidov, an activist with the PFPA, was arrested on charges of illicit drug trafficking on a large scale. This caused resentment in social networks. After the doors of the week, Seyidov was transferred to house arrest.
On the threshold of the May 28th - 100th anniversary of the ANR, administrative arrests for 30 days of the PFPA activist Aflatun Safarov and the Musavatist Elvin Abdullayev were made.
On May 25, PFPA activists Agil Magerramov, Ruslan Nasirli and Babek Hasanov were arrested. They were attracted together with the former head of the Gadabay region Saleh Rustamov and his nephew Vidadi Rustamli. All were accused of "laundering dirty money", which was expressed in the transfer of PPFA donations collected from Azerbaijani businessmen in Russia.
For participation in the procession on May 28 on the occasion of ANO's 100th anniversary, five activists of the REAL party were arrested administratively for a period of 10 to 30 days.
The authors of the report indicate that the expected pardon for the 100th anniversary did not meet expectations.
It affected 12 out of 160 political prisoners and then, half of them remained until the end of the term for several days or weeks.
"The Azerbaijani authorities consistently pursue a policy of repression against dissenting citizens, grossly violating human rights. Institutions of civil society are crushed in the country, the rights of believers are severely suppressed, courts execute orders of the authorities, "said the head of the Monitoring Center for Political Prisoners Elshan Hasanov.
* The monitoring center for political prisoners was established in October 2012 by a group of former "prisoners of conscience". -06D--
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The closure of Azerbaijan's land borders was discussed during the parliamentary session on November 25. While the government’s decision cites the coronavirus pandemic as the main reason—despite the World Health Organization declaring its end last year—Zahid Oruj, Chair of the Human Rights Committee in the Milli Majlis, pointed to other factors. He stated, "Opening the borders could result in an influx of hundreds of thousands of non-Azerbaijani refugees due to the Russia-Ukraine war. Additionally, in Iran, many are prepared to cross into Azerbaijan to safeguard their lives and assets amid military strikes. Such waves of refugees could lead to humanitarian, social, and cultural clashes that may threaten political stability."
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On Tuesday, the General Prosecutor's Office announced the initiation of new criminal cases against agricultural product exporters who allegedly concealed their earnings abroad. Specifically, the Sumgayit City Prosecutor's Office has opened a criminal case under Articles 208.2.1 and 208.2.2 (failure to return foreign currency to the country in large amounts by prior agreement of a group of individuals) and Article 308.2 (abuse of office causing serious consequences) against officials of the company "SOİL BOONS" LLC – Jahangir Aliyev, Elyar Gadzhiev, Mehman Mirzamedev, Saleh Gabilov, and Aly Aliyev.
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Rains will continue in Baku and Absheron on 27 November, forecasters said. In places, precipitation will be intense with thunderstorms. Moderate north-west wind.
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On Tuesday, rainy weather with thunderstorms and moderate northwest wind is expected in the Baku, according to meteorologists. The rainy weather will continue untill Wednesday evening. The air temperature at night will be +7 to +10°C, and during the day, +11 to +13°C. The humidity will be 80-90% at night and 70-80% during the day. Rain with thunderstorms will also affect other parts of the country. Snow is expected in mountainous areas. There will be fog in places, with westerly winds.
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