FB Digest@VoxPOPULI

 

“Those who exercise their human rights and fundamental freedoms, including freedom of expression, should not be subjected to pressure…”

(Lack of) Human Rights and Freedoms

On August 16, new charges were brought against journalist Nargiz Absalamova, who was involved in the investigation of the “AbzasMedia case.” This information was shared by the journalist’s lawyer, Shahla Humbatova. “Nargiz Absalamova has been charged under several articles of the Criminal Code, including 192.3.2 (illegal entrepreneurship, especially when committed for substantial profit), 193-1.3.1 and 193-1.3.2 (money laundering, when committed by an organized group and on a large scale), 206.4 (smuggling, when committed by an organized group), 213.2.1 (tax evasion, when committed by an organized group), and 320.1 and 320.2 (document forgery and use of forged documents),” the lawyer noted. These new charges could result in a prison sentence of up to 12 years.

Court of Appeals Rejects Journalist Afghan Sadigov‘s Appeal. According to Neutral.ge, the Court of Appeals has rejected Azerbaijani journalist Afghan Sadigov‘s appeal against his extradition detention, as reported by the NGO “Rights Georgia.” “Judge Giorgi Mirotadze of the Investigative Affairs Chamber of the Tbilisi Court of Appeals deemed the journalist’s appeal inadmissible and upheld the decision made by the Tbilisi City Court on August 4,” the organization stated. “Rights Georgia” expressed concern over the appellate court’s decision, describing it as unlawful and baseless. The organization noted that the court’s failure to consider Sadigov‘s request for international asylum in Georgia is troubling and should have led to the suspension of the extradition process. On August 8, Rights Georgia filed an appeal with the Court of Appeals against the City Court’s decision. The organization’s lawyers demanded the annulment of the three-month pre-extradition detention order and, as an alternative, proposed a bail amount of 2,000 lari. The appeal also included a statement from Afghan Sadigov addressed to the Migration Department of Georgia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs, in which he requested international asylum in Georgia.

The trial of Fazil Gasimov, a doctoral student at Istanbul University who was detained in Turkey and brought to Azerbaijan in August 2023, has begun. During the investigation, one of the coercive methods allegedly used against him involved adding psychotropic substances to his tea. As a result, a sample was taken from him and sent to a laboratory abroad for analysis. In court, Fazil Gasimov claimed that he was threatened with sexual assault by fellow inmates: “I was engaged in scientific research at Istanbul University. I am a graduate of the UN Young Leaders program. I have dedicated my life to science. While I was fighting economic crimes, they accused me of counterfeit currency. The charges in the criminal case are completely false. I was subjected to severe torture to force me to testify against Gubad Ibadoghlu and to confirm false statements during confrontations. I cannot share everything here. In the investigation detention center, I was threatened with sexual assault by other inmates,” Gasimov stated.

On August 16, it was revealed that seven new serious charges have been brought against Mahammad Kekalov, who was arrested in connection with the “Abzas Media case.” Kekalov‘s relatives informed “Abzas Media” about these developments. Farid Mehralizade, an economist arrested in connection with the “Abzas Media case,” has been hit with seven new severe charges. His wife, Nargiz Mukhtarova, shared this information, describing the accusations as baseless and absurd, stemming from the lack of evidence against Farid. According to Mukhtarova, the new charges against Mehralizade include violations under Articles 192.3.2 (illegal entrepreneurship with significant profit), 193-1.3.1 and 193-1.3.2 (money laundering involving substantial amounts by an organized group), 206.4 (smuggling by an organized group), 320.1 and 320.2 (document forgery and use of forged documents), and 213.2.1 (tax evasion by an organized group) of the Criminal Code. She expressed her concerns in a post on her Facebook account, emphasizing that these charges are unfounded and reflect the absence of any concrete evidence against her husband.

Imprisoned  opositionist Tofig Yagublu has objected the panel of judges handling his case at the Baku Serious Crimes Court. He has submitted an objection to the panel led by Judge Elnur Nuriyev, with judges Azer Taghiyev and Kamran Mukhtarov. One reason for Yagublu‘s objection to these judges is their refusal to allow journalists to take video and photo footage during the court hearings. During the previous court session on August 9, when this issue was raised, Judge Elnur Nuriyev stated that journalists must go through accreditation and submit a written request for filming. In the current court session, Tofig Yagublu again requested that facilities be provided for journalists to take video and photo footage. However, Judge Elnur Nuriyev opposed this request. Yagublu asked the judge for a legal justification for this decision, demanding that he provide the legal basis for the requirement that journalists must be accredited for court proceedings and submit written requests for filming. He asked the judge to specify which law includes this requirement.

On Wednesday, the U.S. reacted to reports about the persecution of Azerbaijan Popular Front Party (AXCP) Chairman Ali Karimli in Azerbaijan. A spokesperson for the State Department told “TURAN”: “We are deeply concerned about the ongoing repression against members of civil society and the political opposition.” The spokesperson added, “Those who exercise their human rights and fundamental freedoms, including freedom of expression, should not be subjected to pressure.” In a statement released on the X platform, the U.S. Embassy stated that on August 14, U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan Mark Libby met with Karimli and inquired about the criminal case against him. “Ambassador Libby reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to supporting democracy, human rights, and fundamental freedoms,” the embassy’s statement said.

Karimli posted on social media about the meeting saying that, they discussed the criminal case opened against him and the legal claims brought against the party. Ambassador Libby once again emphasized the U.S.’s support for democracy, human rights, and fundamental freedoms, said Karimli.

A group of MPs from the United Kingdom has called on the Azerbaijani government to release economist Gubad Ibadoglu. The academic from the London School of Economics and Political Science was detained following articles critical of the government’s policies, according to the Guardian. An open letter to President Ilham Aliyev, organized by the international NGO “Global Witness,” was signed by 25 advocacy groups, Lord Alfred Dubs of the House of Lords, and eight members of the House of Commons. They are urging the unconditional release of the economist. The newspaper notes that in a letter sent to his lawyers, it was confirmed that his trial has been indefinitely postponed. “The Azerbaijani courts have frozen the case, delayed the investigation process, and seem prepared to hold Dr. Ibadoglu indefinitely. We urge you to release him unconditionally, allow him to receive medical treatment abroad, and enable him to reunite with his family,” the authors write. The COP29 climate summit of the United Nations is set to take place in Baku this November. The letter states that if Azerbaijan genuinely wishes to make this conference a peace event, it must immediately and unconditionally release Gubad Ibadoglu and drop all charges against him.

Recently, media outlets under the control of the Azerbaijani government published fabricated claims regarding the discussions held during meetings between opposition representatives and the head of the European Union’s office in Baku. The EU’s Baku office issued a strong statement in response to these allegations. The statement reads: “The Delegation of the European Union to Azerbaijan categorically refutes the recent claims made by some online platforms regarding the meetings between EU representatives and Azerbaijani political parties. These claims about the format and content of these meetings are entirely false and do not reflect reality. We condemn and strongly denounce such disinformation attacks against the European Union, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the EU Ambassador to Azerbaijan, and the EU Delegation in Azerbaijan. The EU supports Azerbaijan’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity. The EU remains a significant and close partner of Azerbaijan, including as its most important trade partner and a strategic partner in the energy sector. The EU is committed to working with Azerbaijan’s COP29 Presidency towards a successful and inclusive COP29. The EU works jointly with Azerbaijan for the benefit of its people, including in the area of human rights protection, and maintains contact with all segments of Azerbaijani society, including political parties and civil society. Furthermore, the EU does not interfere in any elections in any country.”

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