Azerbaijan: Standoff shadows pre-election situation

More than 300 hundred opposition activists were arrested and many wounded in a demonstration in Baku on Saturday. The Human Rights House Foundation (HRH) is deeply concerned about the heated tension between the authorities and the opposition before the parliamentary elections due 6 November in Azerbaijan. (23-MAY-2005) 

Various international rights groups have frequently voiced their serious dissatisfaction over the unbearable pre-election climate and stressed that the “basic pre-conditions for holding free and fair elections, particularly the right to freedom of gathering are not met in Azerbaijan.”

Warning from Council of Europe
In a statement in April the Council of Europe said the approaching elections would be a fork in the road where “we may become witnesses either to fair and free elections or a bloody confrontation between thousands in Azerbaijan.”

A bloc of Azerbaijani opposition parties “UGUR”, which includes the three main opposition parties- the Popular Front Party (PFPA), Musavat and Azerbaijan Democratic Party – jointly appealed to the Mayors Office in Baku last week to get permission on holding rally on 21 May, where the parties planned to primarily demand conduction of free and fair elections, amending to the Electoral Code and ensuring the right to freedom of assembly.

Opposition planned rally
Azerbaijani authorities had refused to sanction the rally of three major opposition parties citing concerns that it fell too close to the day on which the government schedules an inauguration ceremony for the US-supported Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) major oil export pipeline, an event due to be attended by many foreign dignitaries from 30 countries on 25 May. Though the rally was unauthorised, the opposition leaders declared to go ahead with it and met late Thursday to organize their plans for the rally.

Azeri authorities have not sanctioned any opposition protests or rallies since the controversial presidential elections in 2003, which many international observers declared falsified election. Dozens of opposition activists were jailed and incredibly tortured, when the protests against falsification turned into riots and clash with police aftermath the election.

Arrest of 30 opposition activists
Azeri authorities said the police would prevent the 21 May rally by all means. Starting from 18 May the Azerbaijani police detained the active opposition members. The arrest of some 30 opposition activists, 18 of them opposition Musavat party members, was connected with the upcoming anti-government rally of the opposition on 21 May. The OSCE, US embassy in Baku and some international right groups voiced concern on Friday at the arrests, saying the move cast doubt on the legitimacy of upcoming parliamentary elections.
The opposition party’s demonstration scheduled at 4.00 pm in the square facing the 28 May metro station on 21 May. The square reminded the seized citadel, as great number of police and internal troops was deployed there and this metro station kept closed during the rally-long. Police encircled headquarters of three leading parties and blocked approaches to the party offices. 

Mobilisation of police
Azerbaijani government mobilised police, internal troops and specially trained athletic guys incasual wear to beat opposition activists and scatter the demonstration violently. Some ten buses jammed with police with truncheons were standing nearby one of the opposition party office. A large number of police were also brought from regions outside Baku.

The opposition parties continued to maintain their  rallies in various central parts of Baku by forming separate groups, as it failed to enter the main planned square encircled by fortified by police. 

“Today’s event clearly sign that the government is not ready for holding free and fair elections. Over 300 opposition supporters were detained and seriously beaten up,” said Ali Kerimli, chairman of the opposition Popular Front Party.

“I was attacked in my car by a large group of police and my five bodyguards were detained, while my car was taken to an unknown direction. I hardly escaped from this police storm”, Karimli said in front of his party headquarter.

Journalists attacked
Several journalists have suffered during the clashes between policemen and demonstrators. Policemen especially used brutal force against Farid Teymurkhanly, Zerkalo newspaper´s correspondent. Although journalists wore a special jacket identifying working for mass media, the policemen beat them violently. Police mainly beat the opposition backers on their scull and face, while some supporter were immediately hospitalised.

Appeal to the international community
“We will struggle to end against to this dictatorial regime. The international community must react seriously and apply pressures on Azerbaijan which is heading towards authoritarianism,” says Sardar Jalaloglu, deputy-chairman of the opposition Azerbaijan Democrat Party. “Police stormed into our party headquarter and beat some 20 our supporters, who were inside the party office. All these people received great injures,” Jalaloglu said to journalists.

Diplomats monitored the rally
Norwegian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Steinar Gil, the only diplomat who wins unanimous praise and sympathy from opposition activists and local human rights groups, monitored the rally from beginning to end. He was later joined US, British and German embassy secretaries to hold monitoring of the rally.
 
“I condemn today´s police violence against demonstrators. I witnessed the excessive use of brutal force to disperse the opposition’s demonstration. There was no need in such tough measures. Azerbaijani government would prove to be a democratic if allowed to hold rally. We [European Ambassadors] shall hold consultations on today’s police violence and see what steps can be taken,” Norwegian Ambassador said to journalists amid his rally observation.

Ambassador Gil condemns the arrests
 “Right of free assembling has been reflected in the Constitution of Azerbaijan. This freedom refers everybody, who wants to hold gathering or demonstration in any time, of course, notifying the government. I call on the authorities to release the dozens of arrested opposition activists immediately,” Gil told journalists.

Recently, Azeri President Ilham Aliyev issued decree instructing the Azerbaijani authorities nationwide to work vigorously to guarantee that Azerbaijan holds free, fair and transparent parliamentary elections. The US embassy in Baku said, however, that ‘the recent detention and arrest of over 30 members of the opposition cast a doubt on the Azerbaijani government’s commitment to implementing the President’s Decree. The people of Azerbaijan deserve nothing less and we commend the decree’s principled commitment to international, democratic standards.”
 
The OSCE office in Baku has hinted lately that the pre-election situation in the country´s media and its electoral code could jeopardize a fair vote if changes are not made quickly.

Article by VUGAR GOJAYEV,
Human Rights House, Project Coordinator in Azerbaijan