HRW calls on Azerbaijani authorities to release arrested oppositionists

In Baku, the court has found Niyameddin Akhmedov, an activist of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan, guilty of violating the quarantine regime and arrested him for 30 days. The international human rights organization "Human Rights Watch" (HRW) called on the Azerbaijani government to stop abusing restrictions to retaliate against the opposition.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on April 15, Niyameddin Akhmedov, an activist of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA), was detained when he left home after receiving SMS permission in connection with the quarantine regime.

On April 16, the Khatai District Court found Niyameddin Akhmedov guilty under Article 211 (violation of the quarantine regime) and Article 535.1 (disobeying the lawful requirements of the police) of the Administrative Code of Azerbaijan and sentenced him to 30 days of administrative arrest, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was informed by Gezyal Bairamly, the PFPA's deputy chair.

"This is another fact of the authorities' arbitrariness. Despite the fact that Niyameddin Akhmedov got the SMS permission to leave home, he was detained. His relatives were not informed about his whereabouts for a whole day, and his family members were told about the arrest post factum. This is a political arrest. It is a shame when the authorities abuse the alarming situation with the pandemic to retaliate the opposition," Gezyal Bairamly said. According to the PFPA's deputy chair, the arrest of Niyameddin Akhmedov will be challenged.

The international human rights organization "Human Rights Watch" (HRW) called on the Azerbaijani government not to abuse the emergency situation amid the coronavirus pandemic, stop persecuting activists, and immediately release those in detention on charges of violating the quarantine regime.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on April 17, 2020 at 01:12 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.