It is well known that Azerbaijan’s Constitution refers to the country as democratic and law-governed. However, as documented the report Legal Azerbaijan by the human rights organization Political Prisoners Monitoring Center, this is far from being the truth. In fact, as reiterated by the media Turan, the country does not protect human rights and freedom, as well as rules of law and is thus deprived of an independent court. In fact, politically motivated arrests have considerably increased over the past year. More specifically, there are currently approximately 300 political prisoners and 30 journalists who are incarcerated in the country. And even if last may the government signed an order to free 154 people, political prisoners were not concerned by this resolution.
Over the last few days two OC media collaborators have been taken into custody in Azerbaijan. On the evening of august 21 political analyst and OC media contributor Bahruz Samador was arrested after leaving his house to meet a friend. “About half an hour later, 5-6 individuals, identifying themselves as officers of the State Security Service, arrived at our home. They claimed that there had been a complaint against Bahruz, alleging that he was involved in drug-related activities” reported Samador’s grandmother, Zibeida Osmanova, to the media COP29 Campaign. The authorities conducted a search of Bahruz Samador’s home, finding no evidence whatsoever of drug-related crimes. They also reportedly confiscated, among the other things, his computer, diplomas and passports. Shortly after, a state lawyer to the analyst’s grandmother, he was suspected of “treason”, due to his contact with Armenians and, in response, Zibeida Osmanova dismissed the allegations. Nevertheless, the young doctoral student at Charles University - Czech Republic - was later charged with treason, under Article 274 of Azerbaijan’s criminal code, by the Sabail district court and could face up to 20 years in prison or even a life sentence. This charge includes “siding with the enemy, espionage, the distribution of state secrets to a foreign state, and rendering assistance to a foreign state or a foreign organisation to prepare for a hostile activity against Azerbaijan”. As declared by his lawyer, Zibeyda Sadigova, Bahruz Samador reiterated his innocence and thereafter announced that he would begin a hunger strike.
Another striking case that has brought the media’s attention is the occurrence of Azerbaijani writer and OC Media contributor Samad Shikhi. The young man was arrested in Baku’s airport, as he was heading to Tbilisi. The events were reported by activist Rustam Ismayilbayli, who declared that Shikhi “has expected to be arrested”. Another Azerbaijani journalist, Nurlan Libre, revealed to OC media Shikhi’s arrestation, stating that his incarceration “was the start of another wave of repression and arrests of peace activists”.
Samad Shikhi had addressed the persecution that Shiite Muslims face in the country, as well as Azerbaijan’s deteriorating relations with Iran. According to NGOs, 30 journalists are currently detained in the country, as well as over 300 political prisoners. Therefore, in view of COP29 in the capital Baku, many NGOs and activists have called for the release of political prisoners and prisoners of conscience. Among them, the Swedish climate activist, Greta Thunberg, affirmed in an interview with freelance journalist Rasmus Canback that “We can’t let the pattern continue, where the COP meetings are used as a platform for these governments to greenwash themselves and get away with their unacceptable violent and oppressive behavior. All political prisoners must be released. We can't have climate justice without social justice for all.”
Sources:
https://oc-media.org/bahruz-samadov-charged-with-treason/
https://turan.az/en/politics/azerbaijan-lacks-independent-court-human-rights-defenders-783950
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