25 February 2019, 10:40
Baku: rights defenders demand to lift bans on freedom of travel
The practice of prohibiting travel abroad, as a method of political pressure, is widespread in Azerbaijan, says the 20-page study entitled "Freedom of Travel in Azerbaijan: Politically Motivated Travel Bans", published by the Centre for Election Monitoring and Democracy Studies (CEMDS).
The document mentions 30 journalists, activists and politicians who for the last five years have unreasonably been banned to travel abroad; and the ban is still in force.
"Activists and journalists, who have faced the travel ban, believe that these restrictions are politically motivated, pursue the goal of controlling their activities and are used as 'punitive measures'," says the CEMDS' study sent to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent on February 23.
According to rights defenders, local courts, also for political reasons, fail to satisfy complaints against these bans.
In its report, the CEMDS offers to define legislative norms about prior notifications of the persons, whose travels abroad are restricted, as well as to establish time limits for the bans. It is also recommended not to use travel bans as an instrument of political pressure and to lift the restrictions against activists and journalists already in force.
This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on February 24, 2019 at 04:41 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.
Author: Faik Medzhid Source: CK correspondent
