Azerbaijani activist faces travel ban

Activist Araz Aliyev reported that he was banned from leaving Azerbaijan to accompany his sick mother, who was leaving for treatment. He called the restriction of his rights unfounded.

As "Caucasian Knot" reported, at the end of December 2023, a court in Baku arrested co-founder of the "Platform III Republic" Araz Aliyev for 25 days under the article on petty hooliganism. Associates linked the persecution of Aliyev to his political activities. Aliyev himself told his lawyer that he was beaten by security forces during his arrest. After his release on January 17, Aliyev told the "Caucasian Knot" that the items confiscated during his arrest, including a laptop and mobile phone, were never returned to him.

A member of the board of the Platform III Republic (Resplatforma) movement and activist of the Nida movement, Araz Aliyev, was not allowed to leave Azerbaijan abroad on July 7.

 "My mother has been suffering from cancer for six months now, she underwent a major operation, chemotherapy sessions are not giving results. In recent days, my mother's condition has worsened even more, her blood counts are not increasing, and doctors cannot give a clear explanation. I was forced to decide to take my mother abroad for treatment. But yesterday (July 7) it turned out that law enforcement agencies have banned me from leaving the country. Without me, it will be difficult for my mother to receive treatment," Aliyev told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

He called the travel ban "unfounded" since there is no criminal case against her, no investigation is underway.

"My mother fell ill precisely because of the stress she endured in connection with the unfounded persecution of me. Now they (the authorities) are separating her from me and are condemned to death in a foreign country," Aliyev said.

Legal expert and former member of the Azerbaijan Bar Association Namizad Safarov noted that if there is no criminal case against a citizen or other official decisions, then his right to leave the country cannot be restricted. "Even a person with the status of a witness cannot be prohibited from leaving the country. But in practice, law enforcement officers in Azerbaijan arbitrarily impose such restrictions against journalists and activists," the lawyer told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

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It was not possible to obtain comments from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the State Border Service.