In a protest letter to the Azerbaijani president Mr. Ilham Aliyev the Human Rights House Foundation condemns the use of violence against opposition and independent journalists in the centre of Baku on the 9th of October. The brutal methods of the police are unacceptable and violates international standards, says HRH. Read the letter below. (11-OCT-05).                                                        

Photo: Rena Affendi, EurasiaNet

Your Excellency,

The Human Rights House Foundation condemns the use of violence against opposition and independent journalists in the centre of Baku on the 9th of October. As has been well documented, journalists and candidates for parliament were seriously beaten during clashes between police and demonstrators. As has been well documented, journalists and candidates for parliament were seriously beaten during clashes between police and demonstrators.

The Human Rights House Foundation has learned that more than 12 journalists were injured during the police action in Sahil Park the 9th of October. The list consists of Idrak Abbasov from the Ayna-Zerkalo newspaper, Elbrus Seyfullayev from AzerPress News Agency, Mahabbat Orudjev from Yeni Musavat, Afghan Mukhtarov, photographer from Yeni Musavat, Tofik Yagublu from Yeni Musavat, Rasul Mirhashimli from Uch Nogta, Orkhan Aslanov from ANS, Ramiz Najafli, Editor-in-Chief of Boz Gurd, Anar Shukurov from Leader TV, Elman Maliyev from Express member of the Council of Press Monitoring Group, Sarvan Rizvanov from Turan News Agency, member of the Council of Press Monitoring Group,  Ibrahim Mamedov, Head of the Council of Press Monitoring Group.

Many of the journalists were beaten despite the fact that they identified themselves clearly as media representatives. People were bleeding from their heads, after being beaten by police, using steal clubs and bottles to disrupt and break up the demonstration. The Human Rights House Network has been told by Azerbaijani human rights defenders that the journalist Idrak Abbasov is still hospitalised. His colleagues have not been allowed to visit him.

According to TURAN Agency, more than 50 people were detained and more than 20 injured during the demonstration. Among the detainees were five candidates to the Parliament: Eyyub Umudov (Azadlig bloc), Rashid Mansurov (Azadlig bloc), Vurgun Eyyub (Azadlig bloc), Saleh Ashrafov (Liberal Party), Avaz Teymurkhan (Liberal Party). According to the official information, 11 policemen were injured during the clashes.
 
The Human Rights House Foundation underlines that the brutal methods of the police are unacceptable and violates international standards.

We ask Azeri authorities to initiate an independent and impartial investigation of the violent outcome of the 9 October demonstration and make sure that those responsible for the attacks on journalists and other activists be brought to justice.

The Human Rights House Foundation would like to remind you and your Government not only of your international commitments, but also of the basic human rights guaranteed in your Constitution. Furthermore, the Human Rights House Network urges you to guarantee the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association and ensure that there will be no more use of violence against peaceful demonstrators or journalists before, during and after the forthcoming elections.

The Human Rights House Foundation calls upon you and your Government to release all the detainees from the 9 October demonstrations and to stop the arrests of opposition activists and young activists in particular. The Azeri Government should provide necessary protection for all individuals and organisations working to promote basic human rights and liberties, in accordance with the UN Declaration on the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (1998).

Copies have been sent to:

The Norwegian Prime Minister,
The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Head of Department for Human Rights, Mr. Tormod Endresen and Head of the SUS Department, Mr. Ole T. Horpestad ,
The Royal Norwegian Embassy in Baku, Ambassador Mr. Steinar Gil, First Secretary Mrs. Goril Johansen,
The Norwegian Parliament, Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs,
The US Embassy in Azerbaijan, First Secretary Paul Narrain,
OSCE, Baku Office, Deputy Head of Office, Robin Seaword,
Council of Europe, Special Representative, Mats Lindberg,
The Human Rights House Network: Moscow, Warsaw, London, Sarajevo, Bergen, Minsk, Nairobi, Zagreb, Istanbul, Kampala