Law 17:47 23/04/2015

International organizations sound alarm: Tell world about problems of Azerbaijan and you will be punished

A court in Azerbaijan on April 22, 2015 sentenced Intigam Aliyev, Azerbaijan’s leading human rights lawyer, to seven years and six months in prison on bogus charges. The authorities should immediately release Aliyev, 52, and vacate his politically motivated conviction, international organization Human Rights Watch said in a statement posted on its website.

The statement highlights that Aliyev’s conviction comes 51 days before Baku will host the European Games. Human Rights Watch urges Azerbaijan’s international partners to call for the immediate release of Aliyev and other wrongfully imprisoned activists and make clear for Azerbaijan that they will not send high-level delegations to the opening of the games unless these prisoners are freed and the government’s crackdown on independent voices ends.

“Today is a disastrous day for rights and freedoms in Azerbaijan. Intigam Aliyev is Azerbaijan’s pioneer in human rights litigation. If allowed to stand, Intigam Aliyev’s outrageous conviction would mean that for years to come victims of human rights abuse in Azerbaijan have lost one of their strongest advocates,” Giorgi Gogia, senior South Caucasus researcher at Human Rights Watch, said.

The organization reminds that when Azerbaijani authorities arrested Aliyev in August, 2014, a journalist asked him what he was accused of. He responded calmly: “Those who defend human rights and political prisoners and report on election fraud are considered criminals in this country. I am one of those criminals.”

International human rights organization Index on Censorship, in its turn, adds that the sentencing of the respected human rights attorney is yet another example of Azerbaijan’s rigged judicial system and the continued stifling of civil society.

“Index condemns this latest sentence from Azerbaijan – a country that forms part of the Council of Europe, yet upholds precious few of the human rights it has pledged to protect as part of that grouping,” Index CEO Jodie Ginsberg said calling for the international community to speak out against the country’s ''brazen'' human rights abuses, and for the immediate release of Aliyev and his colleagues.

Human rights organization Amnesty International also released a statement. Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for Europe and Central Asia, Denis Krivosheev, noted that Intigam Aliyev is another victim of a concerted campaign by authorities in Azerbaijan “to sweep all of the country’s problems under the carpet” as they prepare to host the upcoming European Games. ''The message is: Tell the world about our problems and you will be punished,” he said, highlighting that the only ‘crime' Intigam Aliyev has committed is to defend the human rights of his fellow citizens. He must be released immediately.
The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint program of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organization Against Torture (OMCT), published a statement on the website of OMCT strongly condemning the seven and a half year jail sentence of the human rights activist and calling for his immediate released.

“Yet another shameful sentence against a prominent human rights lawyer in Azerbaijan,” declared FIDH President, Karim Lahidji.

As the statement reads, Aliyev's health has severely deteriorated since the beginning of his detention.

International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) also published the letter of representatives of 11 media freedom organizations sent to the President of the European Court of Human Rights, Dean Spielmann. They express their concern at the ongoing crackdown on human rights and press freedom in Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan is scheduled to host the first-ever European Games in June 2015, the prestige event, as it did during the Eurovision Song Contest 2012, which was held in Baku. Back then, Azerbaijan still had an active civil society and a number of independent media that could report on such topics as corruption, human rights abuses, and social issues. Now, most of the country’s prominent journalists and human rights defenders are harassed, silenced, in prison, or in forced exile. Two journalists have been murdered with impunity over the past decade.

''In this environment, it is all the more crucial that the European Court of Human Rights prioritize its review of cases pending against Azerbaijan. As of December 31, 2014, 1,404 cases against the country were pending at the European Court of Human Rights, according to the court’s own statistics,'' the letter reads.

As respect for human rights by Azerbaijani authorities wanes, the few remaining independent media outlets, journalists, and human rights defenders in Azerbaijan depend on the European Court to dispense justice and uphold their rights. The international human rights organizations also call on European Court of Human Rights to ensure that these critical cases are reviewed expeditiously, as they are emblematic of the state of media freedom in Azerbaijan, as the letter has it.

According to RFE/RL, Intigam Aliyev is one of activists, journalists, and government critics jailed in what rights groups say has been a growing clampdown on dissent by authorities under President Ilham Aliyev.

According to a recent report by Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Azerbaijan ranks among 10 most censored countries in the world, trailing behind nations such as Eritrea and North Korea, Voice of Armenia writes.

On August 8, 2014 the head of the Legal Education Society, Intigam Aliyev, was arrested on charges of tax evasion, abuse of power and illegal entrepreneurship. International human rights organization Amnesty International stated that Aliyev was arrested on trumped-up charges and persecuted for his human rights activities.

A week before the verdict of Aliyev, April 16, another Azerbaijani human rights defender, Rasul Jafarov, was sentenced to 6.5 years’ imprisonment on similar charges.

Related:

Azerbaijani human rights defender Intigam Aliyev sentenced to 7.5 years imprisonment 

Azerbaijani human rights defender Rasul Jafarov sentenced to 6.5 years’ imprisonment 

International community sharply condemns verdict against Azerbaijani human rights defender Rasul Jafarov

Nils Muižnieks: Prosecution of human rights defenders in Azerbaijan constitutes reprisals for cooperating with CoE

Human rights activist Intigam Aliyev arrested in Azerbaijan: new arrests to be implemented in civil sector  



Source Panorama.am
Share |
Տեքստում սխալ կամ վրիպակ նկատելու դեպքում, ուղարկեք խմբագրին հաղորդագրություն` նշելով տվյալ սխալը, այնուհետև սեղմելով Ctrl-Enter:

Newsfeed

17:00
Armenian church honors St Gregory the Thaumaturgus and others
The Armenian Apostolic Church on Saturday commemorates St Gregory the Thaumaturgus, Nicholas the Bishop and St Myron the Wonderworker....
16:30
Banner at Armenian church in Watertown vandalized, police say
A banner at St. Stephen’s Armenian Church in Watertown has been vandalized, Watertown News reports, citing local police. The...
16:02
At least 3 arrested as Montreal anti-NATO protests turns violent
Montreal police say at least three people were arrested after protests turned violent Friday evening, with demonstrators throwing objects at...
15:45
Expert: Armenia pinned hopes on 'European fairy tales' and became isolated
Arthur Khachikyan, an international relations expert from Stanford University, claims the Armenian government’s poor foreign...
15:07
Armenian-Russian relations 'in agony', expert says
Hayk Khalatyan, a political analyst at the Verelq Information and Analytical Center, on Saturday accused Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and his...
14:32
Powerful Israeli airstrike kills 11 people in central Beirut
A powerful airstrike killed 11 people in central Beirut on Saturday, the Lebanese civil defence said, shaking the capital as Israel pressed its...
14:15
Expert: Armenian-Azeri talks somewhat stalled
Political analyst Suren Sargsyan claims the Armenian-Azerbaijani peace talks have somewhat stalled amid the change of government in the United...
13:33
Temperatures set to plunge next week
Clear weather is expected in Armenia's regions over the weekend. Rain and snow are forecast for most parts of the country next week....
13:06
Magnitude 4․3 quake hits Azerbaijan, felt in Armenia
A magnitude 4․3 earthquake struck Azerbaijan on Saturday afternoon. The quake was recorded 42 km northeast of the town of Goris in...
12:35
Opposition MP slams Pashinyan's Western Armenia remarks
Opposition Hayastan faction MP Levon Kocharyan has blasted Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's remarks on Western Armenia and Baku’s fake...
12:00
MP Hovik Aghazaryan says decided on his parliament seat
MP Hovik Aghazaryan of Armenia’s ruling Civil Contract party has made a decision on his parliament seat. The deputy has told the media...
11:36
US lawmakers request classified briefing on Turkey’s ties to Hamas
More than three dozen Democratic and Republican lawmakers are calling on the Biden administration to offer a classified briefing on...
11:15
Armenia's Mushegh Mkrtchyan wins bronze at World Military Wrestling Championships
Armenian serviceman Mushegh Mkrtchyan (92 kg) has clinched a bronze medal at the 37th CISM World Military Wrestling Championships in Yerevan,...
11:00
Switzerland bans exports to Polish firm after Swiss-made ammunition ends up in Ukraine
The Swiss government said Friday it is barring exports to a Polish military hardware supplier after concluding that some 645,000 rounds of...
17:12
Armenia to face Georgia in Nations League play-off
The 2024/25 UEFA Nations League knockout stage and play-off ties have been confirmed following the draw in Nyon, Switzerland on Friday....
16:36
Hayk Marutyan agrees to debate with Tigran Avinyan
New Power party leader Hayk Marutyan has agreed to a TV debate with incumbent Yerevan Mayor Tigran Avinyan. Marutyan, a former Yerevan...
15:45
Opposition politician: Pashinyan leading Armenia to 'final collapse'
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s administration is leading Armenia to the “final collapse” and Turkification, opposition...
15:05
Caretaker deputy justice minister sacked
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has signed a decree to dismiss Armenuhi Harutyunyan as Acting Deputy Minister of Justice....
14:35
Armenian parliament speaker confirms MP's resignation
National Assembly Speaker Alen Simonyan has issued a statement on the resignation of Narek Zeynalyan as an MP from Armenia’s ruling Civil...
14:06
Visa restricts media access to key event in Yerevan
Visa has restricted the media access to the Cashless Forum 2024 to be held in Yerevan for the first time on November 22. Only...
13:36
Orban says he will invite Netanyahu to Hungary after ICC warrant
Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Friday he would invite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to visit Hungary, saying he would guarantee...
13:11
Temps to plummet in Armenia
Clear weather is expected in Armenia's regions on Friday and over the weekend. Rain and snow are forecast for most parts of the country...
12:32
Alexis Ohanian showcases rare Armenian coin
Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian has showcased a rare Armenian coin from 95 BC featuring Tigranes the Great, a famous Armenian king....
12:16
German foreign minister criticizes Azerbaijan's human rights record
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock criticized the human rights record of Azerbaijan during her first appearance at the UN Climate Change...
12:06
Minister shares new images captured by Armenia's first satellite
Armenia's Minister of High-Tech Industry Mkhitar Hayrapetyan has shared new satellite images from orbit captured by ARMSAT-1,...
11:36
World Cadet Chess Championship passes its halfway mark
The 2024 World Cadet Chess Championship has passed its halfway mark in Montesilvano, Italy. After 6 rounds, in the Open 12 category CM...
11:15
Iran to launch 'new and advanced centrifuges' in response to IAEA censure
Iran said Friday it would launch a series of "new and advanced" centrifuges in response to a resolution adopted by the IAEA that...
11:00
Armenian, Iranian foreign ministers hold phone call
Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan on Thursday had a telephone conversation with his Iranian counterpart Seyed Abbas Araghchi....
17:07
Winter military draft starts in Armenia on November 25
The winter conscription for compulsory military service starts in Armenia on November 25 to run through January 31, 2025. The...
16:45
Russian spokeswoman told not to comment on ballistic missile strike live on air
Russia's foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova received a phone call during a live press briefing on Thursday telling her not to...

Follow us and get updates!

Most popular articles

{"core.blocks.header.spell_message1":"Selected mistake: ","core.blocks.header.spell_message2":"Send a message about the mistake?"}