Rights defenders report obstacles to activities of advocates in Azerbaijan

Advocate who defend activists face pressure, disciplinary actions, and threats of expulsion from the bar association. This opinion was voiced by rights defenders and oppositionists interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot".

"We have big problems with involving advocates in defending rights of political prisoners. Over the past year, the powers of advocates Yalchin Imanov and Irada Djavadova, well-known for their independent and active civic position, were terminated for far-fetched reasons," the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was told on November 21 by Elshan Gasanov, the coordinator of the Union for Freedom of Political Prisoners of Azerbaijan.

According to him, the powers of a number of other advocates were suspended during 2018, and some advocates were severely reprimanded. "Moreover, advocates are punished for what they are to do professionally: for disclosing facts of torture and violations of their clients' rights," Elshan Gasanov noted.

Ogtai Gyulyalyev, the coordinator of the Centre for the Protection of Political Prisoners, also has noted a sharp reduction over the past 7-8 years in the number of advocates in Azerbaijan who are ready to defend political prisoners.

According to Ogtai Gyulyalyev, "because of the large number of political prisoners, who are 150 today, not all of them receive effective legal assistance."

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on November 22, 2018 at 05:56 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.