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The International Partnership Group for Azerbaijan (IPGA), issued a joint statement where it condemned the prosecution of the journalists and the human rights defenders during the recent weeks.

“March 2013 has so far proved to be a damning month for freedom of expression in Azerbaijan, showing the high personal cost and sacrifice those who exercise their right to speak freely on matters of public interest, provide alternative opinions or criticise the authorities in Azerbaijan today have to make,” the statement said.

The statement signed , “ARTICLE 19,” Committee to Protect Journalists, Human Rights Club, International Media Support, ndex on Censorship, Institute for Reporters’ Freedom and Safety (IRFS), Institute for War and Peace Reporting, Open Society Foundations, Media Diversity Institute, Media Rights Institute and Reporters Without Borders.

As the country gears up for the presidential elections in October 2013 there has been a significant rise in civil mobilization in recent months. This includes protests on a range of issues from corruption to physical abuse in the military, which have resulted in mass arrests and huge fines. As an example the case editor-in-chief of Xural newspaper, Avaz Zeynalli was broughtwho was condemned on March 12. He was sentenced to nine years in prison on charges of extortion, tax evasion and failure to implement a court decision. “On Friday 15 March, Vugar Gonagov and Zaur Guliyev, executive director and editor-in-chief of Khayal TV respectively, were released after they were given a probationary sentence of three years.

Aside from Zeynalli, six other journalists remain in prison on politically-motivated charges: journalists Faramaz Novruzoglu and Fuad Huseynov, Tolishy Sado newspaper chief editor Hilal Mammadov, Yeni Musavat newspaper journalist Tofig Yagublu, azadxeber.org website editor Nijat Aliyev and xeber44.com website editor Araz Guliyev.

The document says that on 11 March, Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev signed into law amendments to the Law on Non - Governmental Organisations, which could negatively impact upon the activities of civil society organisations. The failure to meet these requirements would lead to exorbitant fines and confiscation of property.

“On 15 March the Head of the Presidential Administration Ramiz Mehdiyev made a statement in which he accused foreign NGOs of engaging in activities outside their mandate and interfering in the “internal affairs” of Azerbaijan,” the statement said.

The IPGA, along with IRFS, Human Rights Club and Media Rights Institute, call upon the Azerbaijani authorities to: mmediately and unconditionally release all persons in detention or imprisoned in connection with exercising their right to freedom of expression, including Avaz Zeynalli, Faramaz Novruzoglu, Fuad Huseynov, Hilal Mammadov, Tofig Yagublu, Nijat Aliyev and Araz Guliyev. And also immediately and unconditionally release Ilgar Mammadov.

Among other demands were ensuring an independent investigation into the smear campaign and blackmail attempt against Khadija Ismayilova and bring the masterminds to justice.

The human rights defenders also demand overturn legislation restricting the right to freedom of expression, including amendments to NGO legislation and to the law on freedom of assembly adopted in November 2012. As well as respecting the rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly, both online and offline, and refrain from targeting human rights defenders, journalists and others who peacefully express opinions critical of the authorities.

The IPGA, along with IRFS, Human Rights Club and Media Rights Institute, believe it is the responsibility of the international community to ensure this review process holds Azerbaijan to account over its human rights record and believes that the international community has to provide recommendations on the following key freedom of expression issues, which continue to be violated in Azerbaijan: Failure to protect the right to life of journalists, impunity for violence against journalists, violations of the right to private life, politically motivated arrests and imprisonment, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, Legislative restrictions on freedom of expression, restrictions on freedom of expression online, state control of the media.

Today human rights organization “Amnesty International” pronounced four arrested youth activists of the civil movement NIDA as the “prisoners of conscience" and demanded for their immediate release. “AI” also considers it necessary not to allow tortures against the activists, their access to adequate medical treatment and lawyers by their own choice.