Region 14:57 30/09/2013

In run-up to meeting with OSCE observers authorities of Nakhichevan threaten local human rights defenders with physical reprisal

On 25 September 2013 the head of the OSCE observation mission Tana de Zulueta and analyst on Legal Affairs Megan Fitzgerald paid a one-day visit to Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic of Azerbaijan. They met with the human rights activists and representatives of a number of parties, including the opposition. Before the meeting the authorities of Nakhichevan began to threaten defenders with physical reprisals, the article published in an Azerbaijani newspaper "The Mirror" states.

As stated in the report, during their visit the OSCE representatives met with Vasif Talibov, the Chairman of the Supreme Majlis of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic (NAR). Then the guests visited IV Nakhchivan city constituency in order to assess the pre-election situation. The OSCE representatives also held a meeting with the local representatives of "Musavat", Popular Front, "Umid", "Civil Solidarity" and "Yeni Azerbaijan" parties.

The pre-election situation in Nakhichevan was also widely discussed with human rights defenders Malahta Nasibova, Ilgar Nasibov, Hakimeldostu Mehtiev. According to the newspaper Hakimeldostu Mehtiev, the meeting with the OSCE representatives lasted about an hour. "Basically, the pre-election situation in Azerbaijan was discussed," he said.

According to Mehtiev the participants of the meeting were telling the OSCE representatives about the pressure exerted on them by the Nakhichevani authorities. "We told them that the government of the Autonomous Republic of Nakhichevan is trying to impede Jamila Hasanly’s election campaign," he stated.

He noted, that before this meeting, the representatives of the Nakhichevani authorities had threatened him with physical reprisal and arrest. "We were threatened through our friends and relatives. But they could not scare us," Mehtiev said.

As another participant at the meeting, human rights activist Nasibova, reported, during the meeting with the OSCE observers violations that occurred in the territory of Nakhichevan have been discussed. Human rights activists also spoke about the violations that may occur during the presidential elections.

"At one time, forced by the economic hardships, many residents of Nakhichevan were to leave the territory of the Autonomous Republic and move to Turkey with their families. Thus, during each election, their votes are used to ensure the victory of the ruling party candidate,"said the human rights activist.

As Malahta Nasibova noted, she had told the OSCE representatives about the threats faced by the authorized representatives of Jamila Hasanly, the single candidate of the oppositionist National Council of Democratic Forces Party. "We expressed our expectation to see a fair report prepared by the OSCE representatives. The OSCE representatives told us that Vasif Talybov had promised them that the authorities of the Autonomous Republic of Nakhichevan will not create obstacles to hinder the work of the OSCE observers," Nasibova said.

According to Arzu Abdulaeva, the head of the National Committee of Helsinki Civil Assembly, who recently visited Nakchichevan together with the other human rights defenders, the city of Nachichevan seemed to be dead, as there were no people in the streets.

According to the human rights defender, during the walks in the city they encountered a group of men. “We approached them. During the conversation it turned out that these were special agents, who were ordered to follow us. In the mean-time, we need to be delighted with the courage of the human rights defenders, who, even in these difficult conditions, continue their job”, she stated.



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

Newsfeed

17:03
Temperatures to drop further across Armenia
Scattered rain is expected in Armenia’s regions on Friday, Saturday and next week. Foggy conditions are possible in some parts of the...
16:30
Khachanov makes it to second round of China Open
Russian-Armenian Karen Khachanov, the No 7 seed, won against Spanish lucky loser Roberto Carballes Baena 6-4, 6-4 to move into the second round...
16:06
Opposition MP blames Pashinyan's government for 2020 war defeat
Opposition deputy Tigran Abrahamyan accused Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's government of deliberately leading the country to defeat in the...
15:36
‘National disgrace': Opposition leader slams Pashinyan's meeting with Erdogan in New York
Seyran Ohanyan, the leader of the opposition Hayastan faction in the Armenian parliament, said opposition forces were striving to prevent the...
15:05
NSW MPs call on Australians to boycott COP29
Three members of the New South Wales Parliament have delivered powerful addresses on the floor of the Legislative Assembly to mark the first...
14:32
Archbishop Sahak Mashalyan arrives at Mother See
Archbishop Sahak Mashalyan, Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople, on Friday arrived at the Mother See of Holy Echmiadzin, the Armenian church...
14:04
Artsakh president commemorates 2020 war anniversary
Artsakh President Samvel Shahramanyan on Friday visited the Yerablur Military Pantheon in Yerevan to pay tribute to fallen soldiers on the...
13:30
Alen Simonyan to reportedly attend re-consecration of Echmiadzin cathedral
Armenian National Assembly Speaker Alen Simonyan will attend the re-consecration ceremony of the Mother Cathedral in Etchmiadzin on Sunday,...
13:03
No decision yet on next stage of Armenian-Azeri border delimitation, official says
No decision has yet been made on the next stage of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border delimitation process, Armenian Deputy Prime Minister Mher...
12:34
Ruben Vardanyan, other Armenian leaders mark one year as political prisoners in Azerbaijan
Today marks the first anniversary of the arbitrary arrest by Azerbaijani authorities of eight Armenian leaders, commencing with the arrest of...
12:15
Ex-defense minister set to become Japan's next PM
After five tries, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba will finally lead the Liberal Democratic Party — and Japan, The Japan Times...
12:03
Pashinyan at UN: Armenian proverb says, 'Let us speak the positive in order to be well'
As part of his working visit to New York, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Thursday delivered a speech at the 79th session...
11:36
Armenian deputy PM acknowledges problems in relations with Russia
Armenian Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan acknowledged problems in relations with Russia and other countries. "We need to make...
11:15
Artsakh president pays tribute to fallen soldiers on war anniversary
Artsakh President Samvel Shahramyan on Friday visited the Yrablur Military Pantheon in Yerevan to pay homage to fallen soldiers on the...
11:00
Armenia, Azerbaijan agree to put additional efforts towards signing of peace deal
On September 26, under the initiative and with participation of U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat...
17:15
Wheat production in Armenia unprofitable, economy minister says
Wheat production in Armenia is economically unprofitable, Minister of Economy Gevorg Papoyan told reporters outside the Armenian government...
16:46
Martin Scorsese's two film projects postponed
Martin Scorsese, the Oscar-winning filmmaker behind some of cinema’s most iconic works, had planned to begin shooting two highly...
16:34
Yerevan to host Meghraton exhibition and sale of bee products
Meghraton exhibition and sale of honey and other bee products is set to take place at Yerevan's Yeraz Park on September 28-29. The event is...
16:17
Political analyst slams Pashinian's UN speech, photo with Erdogan
Political analyst Suren Surenyants hit out at Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan for his speech at the Summit of the Future held on the sidelines of...
15:35
UNICEF and Germany to scale up child protection services for refugee children in Armenia
UNICEF and the German Embassy in Yerevan announced a new contribution of 2,9 million Euros from the German Federal Foreign Office in the...
15:05
New COVID strain cases detected in Russia
Specialists from the Russian Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing have recorded two coronavirus...
14:35
Armenian Airlines to launch direct flights between Yerevan, Volgograd
Armenian Airlines will launch direct flights between Yerevan and Volgograd, a city in southwest Russia, starting from 1 December 2024....
14:07
Political analyst says South Caucasus turning into a 'powder keg'
Political analyst Sergei Melkonian, a research fellow at the Applied Policy Research Institute (APRI Armenia), warns that the South Caucasus...
13:45
Today marks Komitas' 155th anniversary
September 26 marks the 155th birth anniversary of Komitas Vardapet, a prominent Armenian composer, priest, musicologist, arranger, singer and...
13:30
Georgia seeks to transform South Caucasus into a region of opportunities, PM says
Georgia has led the effort to transform the South Caucasus into a region of opportunities, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli...
12:55
Pashinyan's wife chats with Turkish first lady in New York
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's spouse, Anna Hakobyan, on Wednesday attended a reception in New York hosted by U.S. First Lady...
12:30
U.S. government announces $20,600,000 support to Armenia
Secretary of State Blinken and USAID Administrator Power spotlight democratic progress in Armenia and announce $20,600,000 from the United...
12:17
Blinken to meet with Armenian, Azeri FMs on Thursday evening
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s meeting with Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun...
11:55
The government has decided to remove Mikayel Minasyan's brother from his position as minister, continuing its repressive measures
For three days, members of Armenia's ruling "Civil Contract" faction have been collecting signatures to dismiss Justice Minister...
11:35
Iran warns Israel against 'full-scale war' in Lebanon
Israel's leaders must understand their crimes won't go unpunished, Iran's foreign minister has said on the sidelines of the UN....

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?"}