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The Human Rights House Foundation, the Norwegian Helsinki Committee and the Rafto Foundation have appealed to the Crown Prince of Norway not to participate at the Caspian Oil and Gas Exhibition in Baku 6-7 June. The three organizations fear that the visit can be misused by the Azerbaijani authorities. Read the full letter, in Norwegian, below.

Yesterday, the European Parliament voted for a resolution on Azerbaijan where the closure of the Human Rights House Azerbaijan is mentioned as one of the key concerns in addition to the clampdown on freedom of expression and assembly. The resolution expresses its deep concern at the increasing number of incidents of harassment, attacks and violence against civil society and social network activists and journalists in Azerbaijan. Read the full resolution below.

50 protesters wearing masks bearing the face of jailed Azerbaijani journalist Eynulla Fatullayev gathered opposite the Azerbaijan embassy in London on 20 April, for a demonstration organised by English PEN, Amnesty International UK, Article 19, Index on Censorship and the Media Diversity Institute to mark four years since the arrest of Fatullayev and to call for his immediate and unconditional release of imprisoned.

Staff members of HRHF travel to Azerbaijan to re-open the Human Rights House in Baku. The house was closed by the authorities on 10 March 2011. Meetings have been scheduled with Azerbaijani authorities, various embassies, national human rights organisations and international organisations. HRHF will also participate in a seminar with the Media Rights Institute in Baku.

Fifteen human rights organisations jointly call upon the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe to request an opinion of the European Commission for Democracy through Law (the Venice Commission) stating whether the July 2009 amendments to the Law on Non-governmental Organisations (public unions and foundations), and the new regulations issued on 17 March 2011 in Azerbaijan are in line with the European Convention of Human Rights.

Dozens of opposition supporters have been arrested in the Azerbaijani capital on 2 April as they tried to stage an anti-government rally in downtown Baku. Protesters were beaten and arrested. Four of them have been charged.

On 13 March, Azerbaijani courts sentenced at least 30 people who took part in peaceful protests on 11and 12 March to between 5 and 8 days in prison. The trials were closed to the public. The rallies, in the wake of the mass protests in the Middle East, protested government corruption and called for the Azerbaijan leadership to resign.

Azerbaijani authorities detained 50 demonstrators in Baku on Saturday. On Friday 32 people were rounded up, following the 10 March Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Azerbaijan order for the Human Rights House Azerbaijan to cease all activities immediately. At least five social media and opposition activists were also arrested on 4-8 March.

Human Rights House Azerbaijan, partner of the international Human Rights House Network, is forced to cease all its activities following an order of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Azerbaijan of 10 March 2011.