US Helsinki Commission calls on Azerbaijani authorities to stop repressions

The restrictive measures introduced during the coronavirus pandemic are used by the Azerbaijani authorities to arrest oppositional activists, the US Helsinki Commission has stated.

"We are deeply concerned about reports that the Azerbaijani government continues restricting its citizens' access to the freedom of expression by using arrests, fines, harassment and possibly torture. Authorities should stop using this global crisis to restrict the freedom of expression and harass members of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA) and other activists and reporters," says the statement by Alsi L. Hastings, the Chairman of the Helsinki Commission and a House MP, and by Senator Roger Vicker.

Anar Mamedli, the head of the Centre for Election Monitoring and Democracy Education, has noted the importance of the Helsinki Commission's statement.

"Perhaps supporters of repressions in the Azerbaijani govt had hoped that under the global pandemic, when all states are busy with their own health problems, nobody in the world will care about arrested Azerbaijani activists. However, the recent statements by international human rights structures, and now – by the US Helsinki Commission, have shown that the world democratic community doesn't remain indifferent," Mr Mamedli told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on May 12, 2020 at 10:25 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.