06 April 2020, 11:15
Authorities oblige residents of Azerbaijan to take leave from home via SMS
Since April 5, Azerbaijan introduced a permissive system of travels: one category of people may travel freely, the second – through the online registration, and the third one – after receiving a permit by means of an SMS message. Activists saw a violation of fundamental freedoms in these measures.
The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that by April 4, in Azerbaijan, the number of infected people reached 521, and five persons died.
In particular, MPs and employees of judicial and law enforcement bodies are allowed to travel based on their official IDs or employment certificates.
Others may leave their residences only for emergency medical care, purchase of foodstuffs and medicines, banking and postal services or for relative's funeral.
The citizens, who leave home without permission or find themselves in streets beyond the permitted time, will be held accountable. Persons over 65 are still not allowed to leave homes.
Policemen will not fine violators, if they immediately return home, but in case of a repeated violation, they will be fined, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Internal Affairs *MIA) has stated.
"The authorities, while applying this measure, were obliged to provide all the citizens with mobile phones," said Alesker Mamedli, a member of the Civil Society Platform.
Khadija Ismayilova, a journalist, believes that restricting travels without declaring the state of emergency is unconstitutional.
This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on April 5, 2020 at 00:27 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.
Author: Faik Medjid Source: CK correspondent
