Azerbaijan NGOs Demand Release of Colleague Detained on Fabricated Charges

Several NGO representatives, politicians, analysts, and lawyers issued a statement on April 1 strongly condemning the detention of their colleague, head of the Intelligent Citizen Awareness Center Hasan Huseynli, on fabricated charges and calling for his immediate release. 

According to the statement, Huseynli was detained on March 31 around 6 pm and accused of “hooliganism for allegedly stabbing another person.” The rest of the statement reads as follows:

“As the head of the Intelligent Citizen Enlightenment Center, established in 2004, Huseynli has been known for promotion of open society, human rights and democracy ideas in the western part of Azerbaijan and implementation of programs on enlightenment of the youth and their participation in study abroad programs. With support of donors such as USAID, Peace Corps,  Baku Education Information Center, Open Society Institute, European Commission, British Embassy, SILBA, ALDA, Visegrad, Robert Bosch Foundation and so on, the Intelligent Citizen Awareness Center has carried out more than 20 successful projects.
  
“The local governor has waged pressure campaign against the Intelligent Citizen Awareness Center and its director Hasan Huseynli in the recent years. Throughout Azerbaijan, NGOs increasingly face multiple challenges implementing their work, working with local people and even holding conferences, seminars or trainings in closed places.

“Despite such illegal bans, the Intelligent Citizen Awareness Center has served as a resource center for fellow NGOs from the capital and other regions of Azerbaijan, supporting implementation of their projects. That is why it has become the target of the local authorities.

“Huseynli's case bears striking similarity to that of journalists Ganimat Zahid and Serdar Alibayli, activist Yadigar Sadigov and bloggers Emin Milli and Adnan Hajizade who were arrested on false hooliganism charges. 

“We consider Hasan Huseynli's detention to be part of a larger clampdown on civil society in the wake of presidential election. Thiscrackdown was kicked off in November 2013 with legal actions against Anar Mammadli, head of the Azerbaijani election watchdog Elections Monitoring and Democracy Studies Center, and excessive tightening of NGO legislation. The politically-motivated sentencing of two other activists, Ilgar Mammadov and Tofig Yagublu, to 7 and 5 years in jail, respectively, is yet another evidence of the crackdown.

“Detention of NGO leaders on false charges and the rise in persecutions following the draconian NGO amendments represent a violation of Article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights (freedom of assembly and of association) and the obligations of Azerbaijan undertaken before the Council of Europe.

“Coming less than two months before Azerbaijan's assumes its first Chairmanship of the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers, this arrest once again demonstrates Azerbaijan's reluctance to protect fundamental rights and freedoms. 

“We call on the Azerbaijani government to free our colleague Hasan Huseynli and the civil society activists detained or convicted on trumped-up charges, to respect human rights values and duly fulfill its international human rights obligations and commitments.”

The signatories are as follows (in alphabetical order):

Akif Gurbanov, Democratic Initiatives Institute
Anar Orujov, Caucasus Media Investigations Center
Arzu Abdullayeva, Helsinki Citizens Assembly – Azerbaijan
Asabali Mustafayev, Democracy and Human Rights Resource Center
Aslan Ismayilov, lawyer
Avaz Hasanov, Society for Humanitarian Research
Aynur Bashirova, Media expert
Aynur Imranova, Support for Development of Democracy and Media      
Aytəkin  Imranova, Islam, Democracy and Human Rights Center
Azer Mehtiyev, Public Union For Economic Initiatives
Bashir Suleymanli, Election Monitoring and Democracy Studies Center
Elchin Abdullayev, Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Public Union
Elchin Hasanov, Rights advocate
Elchin Mammad, Social Union of Legal Education of Sumgait Youth
Eldeniz Vahidbeyli, lawyer
Elman Abbasov, Rights advocate
Elnur Malikov, Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization
Emin Huseynov, Institute for Reporters’ Freedom and Safety
Farman Nabiyev, Mingechevir Media Center
Fuad Hasanov, Democracy Monitor
Gubad Ibadoglu, Economic Researches Center
Gulnara Akhundova, Rights advocate
Hafiz Hasanov, Law and Development Public Association
Ilgar Ibrahimoglu, Rights advocate
Intigam Aliyev, Legal Education Society
Jasur Mammadov, Doctrine Journalists’ Military Research Center
Khalid Kazimov, Regional Human Rights and Media Center
Leila Alieva,  Center for National and International Studies
Letafet Malikova, Regional Human Rights and Education Public Association
Matanat Azizova,  Woman Crisis Center
Mehriban Zeynalova, Clean World
Mubariz Tagiyev, Human Rights in Extractive Industries Public Union
Nasrulla Nurullayev, Chairman, Care for the elderly intellectuals
Novella Jafarova, Association for Protection of Women’s Rights, on behalf of D. Aliyeva
Rafik Tamrazov, Center of Equal Opportunities
Rashad Shirin, Political Analyst 
Rashid Hacili, Media Rights Institute 
Rasul Jafarov, Legal Protection and Awareness Society
Rovshan Agayev, Center Support for Economic initiatives
Ruhangiz Huseynova, Solidarity Among Women
Saadet Bananyarli, Azerbaijan Section of the International Organization on Human Rights
Sabit Bagirov, Entrepreneurship Development Foundation
Saida Gojamanli,  Azerbaijan Bureau on Human Rights and Law
Samir Aliyev, Center For Support For Economic Initiatives
Shahin Hajiyev, Najaf Najafov Fund
Shahin Nasrullayev, Rights advocate
Shahla Ismayil, Women's Association for Rational Development
Vugar Bayramov, Center for Economic and Social Development
Ziya Guliyev, Center for Legal Initiatives
Zohrab Ismayil, Public Association for Assistance to Free Economy