FB Digest@VoxPOPULI

 

“Aliyev‘s regime has established torture laboratories where human rights abuses take place, including the killing of individuals, subjecting detainees to electric shocks, coercing prisoners under torture to provide false testimony against themselves, mass arrests of Islamic believers on false drug charges, persecution of activists, restrictions on freedom of assembly, election fraud, and exploitation of the pandemic for political purposes, as well as the degradation of citizens’ dignity by law enforcement agencies…”

(Lack of) Human Rights and Freedoms

On Monday, another high-profile political arrest was carried out in Baku. Anar Mammadli, the head of the Election Monitoring and Democracy Studies Center (EMDS), has been detained by law enforcement authorities. His relatives have informed AbzasMedia about this. It is reported that it is currently impossible to establish contact with Mammadli. An investigation is underway, and Mammadli‘s residence was searched. Lawyer Elchin Sadigov was denied entry to Anar Mammadli‘s home or to see him. It is stated that Mammadli‘s arrest is related to the AbzasMedia case.

Restrictions have been reimposed on political prisoner Niyamaddin Ahmadov, a member of the APFP serving time in Penitentiary Facility No. 12. Ahmadov‘s relatives disclosed that Babak Isgandarli, the prison director, rejected the delivery of summer clothing intended for Ahmadov, sending them back. Additionally, limitations have been enforced on Ahmadov‘s phone calls. Ahmadov was subjected to torture and solitary confinement a month ago for protesting against specific restrictions. Despite this, he resumed his protest through a hunger strike. After discussions with officials, he decided to suspend the hunger strike, as some restrictions had been alleviated.

Elnur Hasanov, a member of the Narimanov District Branch of the Azerbaijan Popular Front Party (APFP), ceased his week-long dry hunger strike on the evening of April 24th. Mammad Ibrahim, a member of the APFP Central Committee, relayed the information: Elnur contacted me from Kurdakhani prison, his voice noticeably weak. He informed me that his demands had been acknowledged by the prison authorities, who urged him to end the hunger strike. On behalf of both myself and the party chairman, Ali Karimli, I appealed to him to halt the hunger strike. After some persistence, he eventually agreed to cease the strike.

On April 25th, the European Parliament adopted a resolution condemning the Azerbaijani government for repression against the country’s civil society. The resolution was adopted with 474 in favor, 4 against, and 51 abstentions. Members of the European Parliament called for the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners, including human rights defender Ilhamiz Guliyev, who was imprisoned in December 2023.

“The ongoing human rights violations in Azerbaijan are incompatible with COP 29,” the resolution stated. Members of the European Parliament urged the European Commission to address the issue of halting the strategic partnership with Azerbaijan in the energy sector. They insisted that any future agreement on partnership should be linked to the release of all political prisoners and improvement of the human rights situation in the country. Additionally, the parliamentarians reiterated their call for the implementation of European Union sanctions against Azerbaijani officials who seriously violate human rights.

The resolution notes that the Azerbaijani government has intensified repression against civil society, public activists, and independent media in recent times. As a result, the number of political prisoners has reached 300. It is mentioned that due to torture, inhumane detention conditions, and lack of adequate medical assistance after his arrest, Gubad Ibadoghlu‘s health has significantly deteriorated, putting his life at risk. Additionally, the resolution states that human rights defender Ilhamiz Guliyev was arbitrarily arrested on December 4, 2023, on unfounded charges related to drug trafficking, following an interview criticizing the government’s use of narcotics during police operations. He is facing up to 12 years in prison.

Based on the adopted resolution, the European Parliament calls on Azerbaijan to immediately and unconditionally release İlhamiz Guliyev, lift the travel ban imposed on Gubad Ibadoghlu released to house arrest, put an end to all charges against him, ensure his access to independent medical examination by a doctor of his choice, and facilitate his access to medical treatment abroad.

Additionally, the resolution calls for the European Union Special Representative for Human Rights to be granted access to meet with political prisoners in Azerbaijan. The resolution also finds that applying sanctions against Azerbaijani officials who have seriously violated human rights, in accordance with the EU’s global human rights sanctions regime, has proven effective.

According to the existing procedure, this resolution should be sent to the Council of Europe, the European Commission, the Vice-President of the Commission, the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the Union, the member states of the Union, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Republic’s government, and the National Assembly.

Commenting on the resolution, the chairperson of the National Council of Democratic Forces (NCDF) Jamil Hasanli said that the real situation in Azerbaijan regarding human rights is even worse. Hasanli: “Despite all the details, this resolution does not fully reflect the grim reality of human rights and political prisoners in Azerbaijan. The situation in the country regarding the issues mentioned in the resolution is even more severe and terrifying than what is stated. Aliyev‘s regime has established torture laboratories where human rights abuses take place, including the killing of individuals, subjecting detainees to electric shocks, coercing prisoners under torture to provide false testimony against themselves, mass arrests of Islamic believers on false drug charges, persecution of activists, restrictions on freedom of assembly, election fraud, and exploitation of the pandemic for political purposes, as well as the degradation of citizens’ dignity by law enforcement agencies. These have become commonplace in our country.”

Detained media expert Alasgar Mammadli has been returned to the investigative isolation ward despite his declining health. This was reported by his brother Nasimi Mammadli. “Today, I had another meeting with Alasgar at the Baku Investigative Detention ward, and once again, our conversation took place through a glass barrier over the phone. He asked me to convey his greetings and gratitude to all friends, acquaintances, and public figures who have been supporting him. Yesterday morning, they took him to the Hospital of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. There, he underwent medical examinations, and blood tests were taken. However, the biopsy surgery for the lump discovered in his gallbladder area, which was causing concern for both him and our family, was once again not performed. The participation of the doctors we trust was also not ensured in the examination process. In the evening, without providing any explanation, he was ambiguously returned to the isolation ward. Our concern regarding Alasgar‘s health problems continues. It would have been relieving to see a clear improvement in his pale and tired appearance. Those responsible for cutting short my brother’s life with fabricated charges will never escape this responsibility.”

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