Baku: A number of oppositionals were detained and dozens beaten up during an unsanctioned demonstration in Baku on 18 December 2005. The Azeri Authoroties have previously received massive international criticism after the brutal break up of the peaceful rally in Baku on November 26. (19-DEC-2005)

On 18 December 2005 the freedom of assembly was violated in Azerbaijan again. The opposition bloc Azadlig attempted to hold an unsanctioned protest action with the main slogan to re-hold the Parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan. About hundred members of opposition parties gathered at 15:00 at two different venues: near the Narimanov and Elmler Akademiyasi metro stations. Scanning “Liberty!” and “Resign!” they tried to move towards the garden in from of the metro station. Though the police did not allow the people to gather, the the actions continued for approximately 2 hours.

Detained and Arrested Protestants 
The police detained 23 people and sentenced 2 of them to 15 days of imprisonment. Dozens of participants were beaten up by the police. The deputy head of Musavat Party Arif Hajili was detained. Two detainees Neymat Aliyev and Shain Hasanli were put under arrest for 15 days, according to decision of Narimanov region court. The remaining detainees were fined and warned by police.

Journalist was Subjected to Violence
The correspondent of “Baki Heber” newspaper Nabi Alishov was subjected to pressure at the rally. Alishov noted that some policemen were in civilian clothes. He was beaten when he tried to fix dispersal of the rally. The policemen prevented him to fulfill his professional duty and insulted him, though Alishov showed them his journalist documents.

Women Tried to Negotiate with Police
Some women protesters tried to persuade the policemen not to beat the people. One of the women said to the nearby policeman “My son, don’t you have an honor?! Our land is occupied in Karabakh and we are living under occupation of this authority”. But the policeman cried rudely to her replying “get away from here, or I will help you”. It was reported that there were plenty of young people among the protestants.

Novella AppelbaumHuman Rights Defenders Observed the Action
The human rights defenders Novella Jafaroglu and Saida Gojamanly faced the rude attitude of police too. The policeman named Khanlar tried to move them away from the area with the explanations “people are gathering around you”. However, the human rights defenders did not leave the area, saying that they would write the report about the situation.

Azeri NGOs appealed to the Council of Europe
On the 13 of December, the leaders of opposition parties, human rights activists and heads of some NGOs sent joint letter to the leadership of the Council of Europe (CE), PACE reporters, heads of committees, delegations and political groups of PACE, and PACE members with the request to pay special attention to the problems of the Parliamentary elections conducted November 6, 2005 in Azerbaijan. “The Council of Europe must show its principality and make it clear to the authorities of Azerbaijan that the violations of basic principles of the Council of Europe will not pass trackless as it was in other issues, for example with the question of political prisoners which has not yet been resolved”reads the letter.

Reaction to the brutal break up of the rally on November 26
Little-LeylaThe PACE and OSCE expressed deep concern after the use of police violens against peacefully demonstartors on November – The police attacked people without warning 10 minutes after completion of the sanctioned action, press-release of the OSCE Baku office reads. According to some information, over 400 demonstrators and several journalists were injured, and 30 people were detained.
“The authorities of Azerbaijan must know that international standards must be taken into account not only drawing up of legislation, but also while use of the law,” said the head of Baku Office of the OSCE Maurizio Pavesi.

Visit and warnings from PACE
On December 2, Leo Platvot, head of PACE election mission, Andreas Gross and Andres Herkel, co-rapporteurs of PACE Monitoring Committee, held a press conference on results of their one-day-long visit to Azerbaijan.  Herkel said political situation in Azerbaijan, especially after dispersal of opposition demonstration by police on November 26, causes “deep concern.”

Appeal from the HRH and NHC
The Norwegian Helsinki Commitee and the Human Rights House Foundation appealed to the president Aliyev to initiate an immediate and impartial investigation of the violent outcome of the demonstration Saturday the 26th of November.”The freedom of peaceful assembly is guaranteed not only in the European Convention of Human Rights (Art 11) and the UN Covenant of Civic and Political Rights (Art 21), but also by the Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Despite the repeated assurances made by the Government, this freedom is still not respected in Azerbaijan as opposition forces repeatedly encounter unreasonable limitations on their gatherings, reads the statement. 

Public Research Commission
On the 6-th of December there was created the Public Research Commission by the initiative of human rights defenders and lawyers. The Commission is to investigate the cases of violence, occurred on the 26 November protest action.

Related stories:
The World Condemns Azerbaijani Authority for the Violence
HRH and NHC condemn the brutal use of violence in Baku