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 Freedom House calls on Azerbaijani authorities to demonstrate tolerance and respect for freedom of assembly and freedom of association. The recent arrests of three youth activists and public statements deterring Azeris from utilizing social networking sites such as Facebook raise concerns about the prospect of an imminent crackdown.

On Friday, Azeri authorities arrested prominent youth activist and former candidate for Azerbaijani parliament, Bakhtiyar Hajiev for a one-month period on charges of failing to appear for compulsory military service.
Troubling reports suggest that Hajiev was threatened with intimidation while in detention. On Tuesday of this week, authorities took two other activists – Sakhavan Soltani with the youth wing of the Musavat party and Rashadat Akhundov of the NIDA youth organization – into custody for questioning in relation to the announced day of protest. Several weeks ago, pro-government experts on state television advised Azeri citizens against the use of social networking sites alleging that, among other things, their use could lead to impotence.

“Any further crackdown against activists in Azerbaijan in the next two days would be a clear indication of stepped-up repression and will ignite not only international criticism, but most likely broader social discontent,” said Freedom House executive director David J. Kramer. “As it is, the recent arrests are very disturbing. More arrests or efforts to further restrict freedom of expression will be an indication not of the Azeri regime’s strength, but rather its weakness. Releasing Hajiev and the others recently detained would be step in the right direction.”