Leyla Yunus: Repressions testify about strengthening of suppression of freedom and right

We are publishing an appeal of the Director of the Institute for Peace and Democracy, Leyla Yunus:

“With beginning of the year it started harsh limitation of activities of the civil society institutions in Azerbaijan. In the presidential election year an executive authority in the capital and regions through the law enforcement bodies (MNS, MIA) actually deprived the citizens of the country the rights guaranteed by the Constitution.

Particularly, it concerns the right to freedom of assemblies. In the capital and in the regions holding of any march, rallies and pickets, and also meetings are prohibited.

The NGO’s are not allowed to rent premises for seminars, discussions. They are not allowed to stay even in hotels (detention of the police of the civil society in Khachmaz region, etc).

In Baku so named tutors from the MNS forbid to the hotel administrations to lease halls to the NGO’s for their events.

From 23 January till 15 March the IPD in advance concluded contracts to the hotels of “Diplomat”, “Park Inn”, “Atropat”, “Sapphire” and others about hall rent. However, a few days before appointed event, administration of the hotels cancelled signed contract, citing on call from the MNS.

Actually, the institutions of the civil society drive in underground, depriving of opportunity to work legally in frame of Constitution.

Right to word. Journalists, bloggers are in the risk group. Kidnapping, beating, robbery (striking example of the last days is attack of a correspondent of Zerkalo newspaper Rashad Rustamov in Dashkesan region) are not full list of the methods of suppression of the word freedom.

Right to defence from torture. Application of tortures in respect of detained on 9 March the members of the NIDA do not reserve doubts (refuse the advocates and Ombudsman visits to detained persons), the court suits on application of tortures are not examined (see results of monitoring of court on torture of Khilal Mammadov: http://online.novoye-vremya.com/new/2012/11/14/get=66167).

Right to fair court proceedings. The IPD has carried out monitoring of court processes from 2004. During six months (October 2012 – March 2013) from monitored 84court processes only one decision of court was fair and legal.

Right to property. In period of 2008-2012 only in central part of Baku were illegal destroyed 5047 houses.

Citizens of Azerbaijan cannot protect life and freedom of their children, which will be able to be killed during service in the army, become victims of people trade, prosecuted illegal detention, torture and conviction on long term imprison on trumped up accusations.

Citizens of Azerbaijan cannot protect their families and houses from illegal destroying and eviction.

Strengthening repressions testify about forthcoming more cruel suppression of freedom of thoughts and violation of law and right. The IPD calls all citizens of country to join efforts in year of presidential election.

Only mutual actions in frame of law it is possible to resist criminal power and achieve liberation of country.

Leyla Yunus

Director of the Institute for

Peace and Democracy”

This post is also available in: Russian