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The Azerbaijani authorities should release imprisoned journalists, bloggers and human rights activists, ensure the rights and freedoms of the citizens in order to make the upcoming presidential elections free and fair, according to Azerbaijani news agency "Turan" the IGPA statement reads.

The document highlights the serious violations of human rights and freedoms in Azerbaijan.

"The presidential elections in Azerbaijan will not be considered fair until people who criticize the regime will not be released from prison, will not be provided with freedom of expression in accordance with international standards," said the executive director of the human rights organization Thomas Hughes in “Article 19.”

"Azerbaijan is heading the UN Security Council, and in November will lead the Council of Europe. The country cannot hold his head high in these organizations, when it violates its own international obligations," he added.

Since the beginning of 2013, a wave of brutal suppression of the rights and freedoms of citizens who criticized the authorities started in Azerbaijan.

"The authorities regularly and deliberately violate the civil and political rights of the citizens of Azerbaijan, using violence and vilification campaign against those who demand their fundamental rights. Despite this, the international community is tolerant towards such manifestations, while it does not tolerate these facts in the activities of other regimes. It is time for the leaders of the EU and other countries to take a stand and state in a loud voice about the human rights and freedoms in Azerbaijan," Robert Hårdh, the Executive Director of Civil Rights Defenders said.

Then the statement lists the arrests and attacks on political activists and members of their families in Azerbaijan: Turkel Kerimli, Ali Gyulaliyev, Ilgar Mamedov, Tofig Yagublu, as well as the arrest of seven activists of the youth movement NIDA.

Separately are listed the cases of harassment and arrest of journalists: Hilal Mamedov, Parviz Hashimli and Avaz Zeynally. It is noted that in the year of presidential elections this persecution have been only intensified.

"The Azerbaijani authorities pursue and punish people for posting information on social networks, condemn them on false charges for possessing drugs and weapons. In the same time, the courts serve as a tool for such transgressions," said the representative of the "House of human rights" Maria Dahle.

"The condition of freedom of information in Azerbaijan was heavy as it is, and on the eve of the presidential election, it became critical. Arrests of journalists, attempts of harassment, constant pressure on the opposition media, publication of a blacklist of persona non grata indicate that there is a common strategy of suppression of dissent in Azerbaijan," stated the head of the "Reporters without Borders" Christophe Deloire.

The presidential elections in Azerbaijan are scheduled on 9 October 2013. The previous presidential elections were held on 15 October 2008. The incumbent president Ilham Aliyev is on this position for two terms already - since 2003 and is going to run for a third consecutive term. Historian Jamil Hasanli has been elected as presidential candidate of the oppositionist party National Council of Democratic Forces.

As the “Reuters” news agency published dozens of opponents of President Ilham Aliyev have been arrested on the eve of the elections in Azerbaijan. Due to this the number of political prisoners in the country has doubled since the beginning of the year.

Thus, according to the Human Rights Club existing in Azerbaijan, currently, there are142 journalists, religious leaders and human rights activists arrested in the country for political reasons. For comparison, the human rights organization emphasizes that in January there were only 60 political prisoners in Azerbaijan.