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The famous financier and philanthropist George Soros urged the Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev to loosen his stranglehold over civil society at their meeting in Davos, reads Azerbaijani information agency “Turan” referring to the statement of the “Open Society Foundation” (Soros fund).

As the article has it, the statement expresses the concern of the organisation about the intensifying campaign against civil society in Azerbaijan, including the detention of several prominent human rights activists.

“Over the past few months, Azerbaijan’s government has arrested dozens of political activists, human rights defenders and lawyers and falsely charged them with crimes ranging from misappropriation of funds to treason. Some have already received lengthy prison sentences,” the statement reads.

The article reports that the names of the imprisoned human rights defenders Leyla Unus, Rasul Jafarov, the lawyer Intigam Aliyev, and journalist Khadija Ismayilova were particularly highlighted in the statement.

“Open Society’s foundation in Azerbaijan is targeted, too. They froze and seized its computers, as well as questioned former employees,” reports the statements adding that the foundation dismisses any allegations of wrongdoing.

It’s emphasized in the statement that during his meeting with the President Aliyev George Soros, the founder and chair of the Open Society Foundations, urged him to loosen his stranglehold over civil society and to end his harassment of legally registered charitable organisations in Azerbaijan.

Open Society’s foundation reminds that since 1999 it has worked with local partners to improve transparency around oil and gas revenues. Soros also called on the Azerbaijani President to regain its place among the front-runners of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, “Turan” reports.