09.09.2024



Center for National and International Studies

FB Digest@VoxPOPULI

 

“Those who detain us belong to Prison. No one can silence free media…”

(Lack of) Human Rights and Freedoms

Another activist, Nijat Ibrahim, was not allowed to leave Azerbaijan on September 6. He was not permitted to board the flight to Chișinău at the border checkpoint of Baku International Airport. ‘We were traveling as a family to Chișinău, but I was stopped at the border checkpoint and told that the Ministry of Internal Affairs had placed a “stop” on my departure,’ he told Turan. Ibrahim’s wife and two young daughters were allowed to leave. ‘My family members did not want to go without me, but they were told they would only be allowed off the plane under police supervision. They left, and I stayed behind,’ Ibrahim said. He also stated that there is no criminal case against him. In 2021, Ibrahim was sentenced to one year and three months on charges of spreading the coronavirus. However, the activist believes that he was arrested for his intention to hold a protest in front of the Presidential Administration. According to the activist, he was also denied exit from the country once in 2022. Despite the court ruling in May of this year that the ban was illegal, it has not been lifted. ‘After the court ruling, I thought the problem was solved, but that turned out not to be the case,’ Ibrahim said. “This ban is linked to my public activism. I oppose unlawful actions and voice my criticism of them on social media”, Nijat Ibrahim added.

Jailed young researcher Fazil Gasimov, who has been subjected to severe torture to force him to sign a statement against professor Gubad Ibadoglu, has been on hunger strike for months. Human rights defender Rufat Safarov reports that Gasimov’s weight has dropped to under 40 kilograms, and his condition is now critical, with the possibility of losing his life at any moment. Gasimov initially signed the statement against professor Ibadoglu under torture but retracted it after the investigation period ended. Gasımov is on hunger strike to protest against false accusations and unlawful imprisonment and is demanding his release. In the most recent court hearing, he was brought in a wheelchair as he was unable to walk due to extreme weight loss. Gasimov is a graduate of Tilburg University in the Netherlands and Istanbul University in Turkey.

On September 7, the detention periods of Ulvi Hasanli, director of Abzas Media, Sevinj Vagifgizi, editor-in-chief, deputy director Mahammad Kekalov, and journalists Hafiz Babali and Nargiz Absalamova were extended. The extension was granted by Judge Sahibe Hajiyeva of the Khatai District Court based on a request from the investigative body. Thus, the detention periods for the journalists have been extended for an additional three months. During their court appearance, the detained journalists chanted slogans: “No one can silence me,” “Prison is where those who detain me belong,” and “No one can silence a free media!” The journalists believe that their detention was politically motivated. Since their initial detention last year, their detention periods have been repeatedly extended.

A statement was issued by the rectors of five Belgian universities and the head of the Fund for Scientific Research (F. R. S. –FNRS) regarding the detention of young scholar Bahruz Samadov. Université Catholique de Louvain, University of Liège, Université de Mons, Université libre de Bruxelles, Université de Namur, and Le Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique – FNRS called on for immediate release of Samadov urging academic community for solidarity. Samadov was detained last month while the police raided his apartment. He denies the accusations against him, linking his arrest to his criticism of the regime and pro-peace advocacy.

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has issued a ruling in the case of “Afgan Mukhtarli v. Azerbaijan and Georgia.” According to the decision, the Georgian government is required to pay the journalist €10,000, while the Azerbaijani government must pay €6,000 as compensation for moral damages. The case revolves around the applicant, journalist Afgan Mukhtarli, who was kidnapped in Georgia, where he was temporarily residing in 2017, brought to Azerbaijan, subjected to ill-treatment, and subsequently imprisoned. He claimed that all actions against him were aimed at silencing him and punishing him for his journalistic activities. In its ruling, the ECHR found that Georgia had violated Articles 3 (prohibition of ill-treatment) and 5 (right to liberty and security) of the European Convention on Human Rights due to the failure to conduct an effective investigation into his abduction, mistreatment, and illegal transfer to Azerbaijan. Regarding Azerbaijan, the court recognized violations of Articles 5.3 (right to be brought promptly before a judge) and 8 (right to respect for private and family life) of the Convention.

Activist and parliamentary candidate Vafa Naghi, who was protesting election fraud in Neftchala, and journalist Shahla Karim were detained while protesting in front of the 70th Constituency Election Commission. Naghi was live-streaming on TikTok from the tent she sat in front of the commission when a group of officers attacked her and the journalist and violently detained them. Shortly after their detention, both Naghi and Karim were released.

On September 6, a court session was held at the Baku Court of Grave Crimes for Tofig Yagublu, a member of the Musavat Party and the National Council of Democratic Forces. During the session, his sister’s condition worsened when Yagublu had an argument with Judge Elnur Naghiyev. The judge announced that Yagublu‘s daughter, Nigar Hazi, and son-in-law, Seymur Hazi, would not be allowed into the courtroom, and in response to this, Tofig Yagublu refused to participate in the proceedings under these circumstances. The next hearing is scheduled for September 13. Yagublu was arrested on December 14 last year and is being charged under articles 178.3.2 (fraud causing large-scale damage), 320.1 (forgery, illegal preparation, or sale of official documents, state awards, seals, stamps, or forms), and 320.2 (knowingly using forged documents) of the Criminal Code. Yagublu denies these allegations, describing his arrest as politically motivated and the charges as fabricated. Yagublu’s daughter Nigar Hazi made the following statement regarding the court hearing: “We will win this process! There is no doubt that we will win this! There is no turning back from here! We will go until death, and there is no turning back! Either Tofig Yagublu will be released or will die in prison as he will protest the unlawful court verdict with a hunger strike (death strike)! The decision is up to Ilham Aliyev! Tofig Yagublu has no guilt, no fault, no crime. He must be immediately released!”

Corruption and Governance

The Chamber of Accounts has revealed significant violations at Baku State University (BSU) following inspections. According to the report covering the years 2022-2023, the Chamber noted that most of the university’s expenses were socially oriented, but shortcomings were identified in the payment of these expenses. These issues included incorrect calculation of income tax, excessive calculation of bonuses, and unused vacation days, totaling 13,300 AZN. The audit also uncovered that outstanding debts, or receivables, included both local and international students, as well as doctoral candidates. It was noted that due to the failure to fully meet the terms of contracts related to tuition fees for local and foreign students, a total debt of 2,522,800 AZN had accumulated.


September 10, 2024