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AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL: AZERBAIJAN'S POLICE VIOLENTLY DISPERSE PEACEFUL RALLIES AHEAD OF EUROVISION
News from Armenia and Diaspora - Noyan
14-05-2012
Azerbaijan must immediately halt the police use of violence to suppress
freedom of expression, Amnesty International said after two separate
peaceful protests were broken up by police in the capital city Baku
on Monday.
Local activists told Amnesty International that opposition party
members were specifically targeted at rallies in Baku's Sabir Garden
area and in front of the city authorities' offices.
Independent video footage from the scene shows police roughing up
demonstrators as they are being dragged away.
Around 300 protesters took part in the unsanctioned gatherings which
called for the release of political prisoners before Azerbaijan hosts
the Eurovision Song Contest later this month.
"The glitz and glamour of the Eurovision are only weeks away, but the
international media attention the contest will bring seems to be no
deterrent for Baku's police, who continue to use brute force to put
down peaceful protests," said John Dalhuisen, Amnesty International's
Europe and Central Asia Programme Director.
"We renew our call on the Eurovision's planners to roundly condemn this
unacceptable ongoing repression of freedom of expression in Azerbaijan.
"Azerbaijan's authorities must take immediate steps to lift bans on
public protests in central Baku and to bring to justice all those
responsible for the police abuse."
Before Monday's protests began, police surrounded the area and
attempted to stop activists near the Icheri Sheher metro station.
Abulfaz Gurbanly, one of the protest organizers and the head of the
opposition Popular Front Party (PFP) Youth Committee, told Amnesty
International that the protesters had gathered to "demand freedom of
assembly and the release of all political prisoners".
In recent months, Baku city authorities have permitted some protests,
but have maintained a ban on opposition parties holding rallies in the
city centre, instead relegating such gatherings to the far outskirts
of the city.
Gurbanly and 17 other activists were detained at Monday's protests
before being held at two different Sabail District Police departments.
Ten of them were driven west of the city to the Gobustan Reserve and
released with a verbal warning, and the remaining eight detainees
were given written warnings before being set free.
Police also briefly detained another group of 10 female activists at
the rallies, and drove them away from the scene before releasing them
in the city's Akhundov Garden area.
Gurbanly told Amnesty International that police had used beatings and
violence while dispersing the peaceful protesters. He described how
policemen punched him and dragged him by his hair during his arrest.
Independent videos from the protests posted to YouTube show uniformed
police officers shoving, punching and kicking peaceful protesters,
as well as dragging some away as they shout "freedom" (Azadliq).
"This latest crackdown on peaceful protests is sadly an accurate
indicator of the Azerbaijani authorities' attitude towards freedom
of expression. It must be remedied by ensuring those responsible are
swiftly brought to justice," said Dalhuisen.
News from Armenia and Diaspora - Noyan
14-05-2012
Azerbaijan must immediately halt the police use of violence to suppress
freedom of expression, Amnesty International said after two separate
peaceful protests were broken up by police in the capital city Baku
on Monday.
Local activists told Amnesty International that opposition party
members were specifically targeted at rallies in Baku's Sabir Garden
area and in front of the city authorities' offices.
Independent video footage from the scene shows police roughing up
demonstrators as they are being dragged away.
Around 300 protesters took part in the unsanctioned gatherings which
called for the release of political prisoners before Azerbaijan hosts
the Eurovision Song Contest later this month.
"The glitz and glamour of the Eurovision are only weeks away, but the
international media attention the contest will bring seems to be no
deterrent for Baku's police, who continue to use brute force to put
down peaceful protests," said John Dalhuisen, Amnesty International's
Europe and Central Asia Programme Director.
"We renew our call on the Eurovision's planners to roundly condemn this
unacceptable ongoing repression of freedom of expression in Azerbaijan.
"Azerbaijan's authorities must take immediate steps to lift bans on
public protests in central Baku and to bring to justice all those
responsible for the police abuse."
Before Monday's protests began, police surrounded the area and
attempted to stop activists near the Icheri Sheher metro station.
Abulfaz Gurbanly, one of the protest organizers and the head of the
opposition Popular Front Party (PFP) Youth Committee, told Amnesty
International that the protesters had gathered to "demand freedom of
assembly and the release of all political prisoners".
In recent months, Baku city authorities have permitted some protests,
but have maintained a ban on opposition parties holding rallies in the
city centre, instead relegating such gatherings to the far outskirts
of the city.
Gurbanly and 17 other activists were detained at Monday's protests
before being held at two different Sabail District Police departments.
Ten of them were driven west of the city to the Gobustan Reserve and
released with a verbal warning, and the remaining eight detainees
were given written warnings before being set free.
Police also briefly detained another group of 10 female activists at
the rallies, and drove them away from the scene before releasing them
in the city's Akhundov Garden area.
Gurbanly told Amnesty International that police had used beatings and
violence while dispersing the peaceful protesters. He described how
policemen punched him and dragged him by his hair during his arrest.
Independent videos from the protests posted to YouTube show uniformed
police officers shoving, punching and kicking peaceful protesters,
as well as dragging some away as they shout "freedom" (Azadliq).
"This latest crackdown on peaceful protests is sadly an accurate
indicator of the Azerbaijani authorities' attitude towards freedom
of expression. It must be remedied by ensuring those responsible are
swiftly brought to justice," said Dalhuisen.