The Human Rights House Foundation (HRH), Norwegian Helsinki Committee (NHC) and Swedish Helsinki Committee (SHC) have joinly sent an open letter to the Azeri President I. Aliyev concerning the recent detention of opposition activists. HRH, NHC and SHC called for the Azerbaijani Government to immediately intervene to create an environment for civil society to act freely and without intimidation all over Azerbaijan. (20-MAY-2005)
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan
Mr. Ilham Aliyev
Baku, Azerbaijan
Oslo, 20 th May 2005
Your Excellency,
The non-governmental human rights organisations Human Rights House Foundation (HRH), the Norwegian Helsinki Committee (NHC) and the Swedish Helsinki Committee (SHC) are concerned about the recent developments in Azerbaijan.
Yesterday we received alarming reports from a number of credible sources regarding the detention of 29 democracy activists and members of the opposition on 18-19th of May 2005. The authorities have accused them of violation of public order. We believe that the arrests are connected with the upcoming rally planned by the opposition parties in the UGUR-bloc tomorrow on May 21st.
The Mayor of Baku´s decision to refuse the permission of the protest act on May 21 contradicts the Presidential Decree on May 12, which order the local authorities to allow political rallies. Azeri authorities have denied public manifestations in the city of Baku the last 19 months. This is a violation of the right to freedom of assembly. HRH, NHC and SHC call on the Azerbaijani Government to obey the European Convention on Human Rights and respect the freedom of association and assembly stated in article 11.1: “Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and to freedom of association with others, including the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interests.” As member of the Council of Europe, the Azeri authorities should comply with their commitments.
HRH, NHC and SHC urge the authorities to allow the actions of a peaceful protest May 21. We ask the authorities to immediately release the 29 activists that were detained on May 18 and 19. According to information we have received on May 19, these were among the detained:
Razi Nurallayev, a young, non-violent democracy activist and a founder of the “YOX” (NO) Movement in Azerbaijan was arrested May 19 without charges and is to be kept in detention for five days.
Huseyn Melikov, the chairman of Sabail branch of the Musavat party was detained by the police on May 17. He was kept in the 8th police department of Sabail district. On the same day the court passed decision on his administrative arrest for 5 days.
Vugar Huseynov the Deputy Chairman of the Youth Committee of Popular Front Party was detained without reason and was brought to the 22 Police Office of Nasimi district May 18.
Fizuli Suleymanov, the member of the Mejlis of the Popular Front Party was detained and brought to the 27 Police office in Yasamal district May 18.
Relatives of Elkhan Mastanaliyev, the activist of the Nizami branch of the Popular Front Party, were taken by the police May 18.
Firuz Veli, the Chairman of the Garadag branch of Musavat Party was detained on May 19, together with the party members Zaur Ahmedov and Veli Ahmedov . Their location is not known.
Nazim Abbasov, the chairman of the Narimanov branch of the Azerbaijan Democratic Party has informed about the detention. According to the Azerbaijan Democratic Party several other active members have been detained.
Fizuli Huseynov, a former political prisoner and member of “Musavat” party was detained on May 19.
Vugar Arazov the chairman of the regional branch of “Musavat” party in Gusar region was detained on May 18. He was kept for several hours and then released. However on May 19 the police detained two brothers of Arazov and three of his relatives.
Akif Nacafli an activist of the Garadag branch Musavat Party has been detained in his working place on May19.
Fahraddin Guliyev, the member of the Azerbaijan Democratic Party was detained and brought the 37th police department on May 19.
Location of the activist of the Yasamal branch of the Popular Front Party, Soltan Abushev is not known.
According to the Popular front party (PFPA) the flats of the chairmen of regional department of Mehabbat Gurbanov and Mahmud Huseynov are also under supervision.
HRH, NHC and SHC call for the Azerbaijani Government to immediately intervene to create an environment for civil society to act freely and without intimidation all over Azerbaijan.
Sincerely yours,
Robert Hårdh
Secretary General
Swedish Helsinki Committee for Human Rights
Maria Dahle Bjørn Engesland
Executive Director Secretary General
The Human Rights House Foundation, Norway Norwegian Helsinki Committee
Copies of this letter are sent to:
The Norwegian Foreign Minister, Jan Petersen
The Norwegian Prime Minister, Kjell Magne Bondevik
The Norwegian Parliament, Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Torbjørn Jagland
The Swedish Prime Minister, Göran Persson
The Swedish Foreign Minister, Laila Freivalds
The Norwegian Embassy, Baku, Steinar Gil
The US Embassy, Baku
The Swedish Parliament, Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Urban Ahlin
FIDH,
Freedom House
OSCE, Baku Office
Council of Europe, Baku Office
, Norwegian Helsinki Committee (NHC) and Swedish Helsinki Committee (SHC) have joinly sent an open letter to the Azeri President I. Aliyev concerning the recent detention of opposition activists. HRH, NHC and SHC called for the Azerbaijani Government to immediately intervene to create an environment for civil society to act freely and without intimidation all over Republic of Azerbaijan. (20-MAY-2005)&redirect_uri=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2F){kind=link}