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In Run-Up To Meeting With OSCE Observers Authorities Of Nakhichevan

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  • In Run-Up To Meeting With OSCE Observers Authorities Of Nakhichevan

    IN RUN-UP TO MEETING WITH OSCE OBSERVERS AUTHORITIES OF NAKHICHEVAN THREATEN LOCAL HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS WITH PHYSICAL REPRISAL

    14:57 30/09/2013 " REGION

    On 25 September 2013 the head of the OSCE observation mission Tana
    de Zulueta and analyst on Legal Affairs Megan Fitzgerald paid a
    one-day visit to Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic of Azerbaijan. They
    met with the human rights activists and representatives of a number of
    parties, including the opposition. Before the meeting the authorities
    of Nakhichevan began to threaten defenders with physical reprisals,
    the article published in an Azerbaijani newspaper "The Mirror" states.

    As stated in the report, during their visit the OSCE representatives
    met with Vasif Talibov, the Chairman of the Supreme Majlis of
    Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic (NAR). Then the guests visited IV
    Nakhchivan city constituency in order to assess the pre-election
    situation. The OSCE representatives also held a meeting with the local
    representatives of "Musavat", Popular Front, "Umid", "Civil Solidarity"
    and "Yeni Azerbaijan" parties.

    The pre-election situation in Nakhichevan was also widely discussed
    with human rights defenders Malahta Nasibova, Ilgar Nasibov,
    Hakimeldostu Mehtiev. According to the newspaper Hakimeldostu Mehtiev,
    the meeting with the OSCE representatives lasted about an hour.

    "Basically, the pre-election situation in Azerbaijan was discussed,"
    he said.

    According to Mehtiev the participants of the meeting were telling
    the OSCE representatives about the pressure exerted on them by the
    Nakhichevani authorities. "We told them that the government of the
    Autonomous Republic of Nakhichevan is trying to impede Jamila Hasanly's
    election campaign," he stated.

    He noted, that before this meeting, the representatives of the
    Nakhichevani authorities had threatened him with physical reprisal
    and arrest. "We were threatened through our friends and relatives. But
    they could not scare us," Mehtiev said.

    As another participant at the meeting, human rights activist Nasibova,
    reported, during the meeting with the OSCE observers violations that
    occurred in the territory of Nakhichevan have been discussed. Human
    rights activists also spoke about the violations that may occur during
    the presidential elections.

    "At one time, forced by the economic hardships, many residents of
    Nakhichevan were to leave the territory of the Autonomous Republic
    and move to Turkey with their families. Thus, during each election,
    their votes are used to ensure the victory of the ruling party
    candidate,"said the human rights activist.

    As Malahta Nasibova noted, she had told the OSCE representatives
    about the threats faced by the authorized representatives of Jamila
    Hasanly, the single candidate of the oppositionist National Council of
    Democratic Forces Party. "We expressed our expectation to see a fair
    report prepared by the OSCE representatives. The OSCE representatives
    told us that Vasif Talybov had promised them that the authorities of
    the Autonomous Republic of Nakhichevan will not create obstacles to
    hinder the work of the OSCE observers," Nasibova said.

    According to Arzu Abdulaeva, the head of the National Committee of
    Helsinki Civil Assembly, who recently visited Nakchichevan together
    with the other human rights defenders, the city of Nachichevan seemed
    to be dead, as there were no people in the streets.

    According to the human rights defender, during the walks in the
    city they encountered a group of men. "We approached them. During
    the conversation it turned out that these were special agents, who
    were ordered to follow us. In the mean-time, we need to be delighted
    with the courage of the human rights defenders, who, even in these
    difficult conditions, continue their job", she stated.

    Source: Panorama.am

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