AI: human rights violations continue in Azerbaijan

The international human rights organization "Amnesty International" (AI) urges the international community "not to condone" numerous human rights violations in Azerbaijan.

In the report issued yesterday, on November 16, which was dedicated to the situation of human rights and freedoms in the country during the last months, human rights activists draw attention to the increased repression against the opposition, public figures and journalists.

The report, entitled "Spring, which has failed to bloom: freedom is suppressed in Azerbaijan", the AI reminds that the March protests in Azerbaijan were severely suppressed, and 17 people who had been arrested at that time, were recognized by international human rights activists as prisoners of conscience.

The report also criticized the ban on public rallies of the opposition in the centre of Baku imposed by the authorities: on Tuesday, November 15, the authorities dispersed another protest rally organized by young activists.

According to the human rights activists, the Azerbaijani authorities continue resorting to charges of criminal crimes and defamation to silence the critical media. According to the report published on the AI's website, since 2009, broadcasting of foreign media on the air of the country is prohibited.

"The government is tightening a rope's end on all forms of information exchange, limiting access to it," the AI quotes Ganimat Zakhid, an editor of the oppositional newspaper "Azadlyg", as saying. "Independent media are denied in access to the printed paper and points of retail sale; as a result, the society starts to feel information hunger. We begin to rely increasingly on social networks to discuss critical issues of public life."

In its report, the AI emphasizes that "the international community responds cautiously" to majority of such cases. "Azerbaijan is a major supplier of oil and state of transit of Caspian and Central Asian resources. The Ilham Aliev's government has proved itself to be the stable partner of the Western countries at changeable strategically important part of the world; it has also sent troops to Afghanistan and Iraq," the human rights activists stress. "However, with regard to long-term interests of the Azerbaijani people and the international community, to condone human rights violations that undermine the democratic development of Azerbaijan and its long-term stability are not the best way."

According to the report's authors, finally, "disregard for human rights contradicts the interests of the international community and the Azerbaijani people, it undermines the development of democracy and long-term political stability in Azerbaijan."

The government in Baku has not yet commented on the report, the "BBC Russian" reports.