THE LIST OF AZERI POLITICAL PRISONERS IS ENLARGEDInternational organizations demand that Baku release the illegally arrested oppositionists. The ''Human Rights Watch'' organization dedicated to protecting of human rights published a report concerning the situation in Azerbaijan after the October 15 Presidential elections. In the document consisting of 55 pages the Azerbaijani authorities are being condemned of hundreds of arbitrary arrests, widespread beatings and torture, and politically motivated job dismissals of members and supporters of the opposition following the October 15 presidential election. The authors of the report are sure that Ilham Aliyev has won the elections as a result of falsifications. January 27, 2004 PanARMENIAN.Net - According to the report, there are 1000 arrested: more than 100 detainees remain in custody, and could face imprisonment of up to 12 years. ''Azerbaijan is experiencing its gravest human rights crisis of the past ten years,'' according to the organization. The report is based on hundreds of interviews with victims and eyewitnesses in 13 towns and cities in Azerbaijan. The organization underlines especially the Azerbaijani police and security forces. According to the France Press, the Western diplomats confirm the condemnations of the ''Human Rights Watch''. One of them, preferring to remain unknown, told the reporter: ''People said they were being tortured through severe beatings, electric shocks, and threats of male rape''. The Human Rights Watch condemned the governments of Western countries, especially the USA, for inaction. Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of State made a statement about the situation in Azerbaijan last week. The official Washington urged the Azerbaijani government to speed up the investigation of cases of people arrested on October 15. ''The Azerbaijani authorities have to prove the guilt of detainees or immediately release them,'' Official Representative of the Department of State Adam Erely said. Speaking at the OSCE session in Vienna, U.S. Permanent Representative of USA to OSCE Duglas Davidson also spoke about the illegal arrests in Azerbaijan. He reminded that more that there are still more than 100 detainees. Members of the special mission presented to the President Aliyev the position of OSCE to the events. ''It was an oral confidential demarche,'' a well-informed diplomatic source told Touran agency. The leaders of the organization applied to the President of France Jacques Chirak asking him to speak about the release of the editor of ''Yeni Musavat'' newspaper during the official visit of Ilham Aliyev o France. The editor Rauf Arifoglu was arrested on Oactober 27, 2003. Commenting the reaction of international organizations, the head of the cabinet of Azerbaijani President told the journalists that their opinion ''is not of an obligatory nature'' but only a recommendation. Deputy Prosecutor General of the country Eldar Nuriyev said that the statements of international structures can not affect the investigation. It is known that the deputy head of the police department of Baku, General Yashar Aliyev has personally participated in beating of journalists. The journalists were demanding to punish him, but the prosecutor's office has refused even to consider the issue. The video records possessed by the investigating bodies show that during the events of October 16 the policemen were beating even those who were not able to resist. According to the ''Echo'' newspaper [Baku], ''It wouldn't be difficult to reveal those policemen and call them to account...'' Most popular in the section Who is who in the web of so many Sargsyans Controversy in quotations Split of opposition votes There will be no ideal solution More articles in this section 6 simple facts about Armenia–Karabakh–Azerbaijan triangle Everything you need to know Main arguments of Armenia’s first President Next Karabakh proposals will be even worse Bizarre election promises Church taxation and restoration of monasteries in Western Armenia | Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Aliyev says no need for mediators in Armenia-Azerbaijan process Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev believes that Baku and Yerevan do not mediators in the process of normalizing relations. Aram I supports Karekin II’s “patriotic position” Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I has expressed support for the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. U.S. believes peace is “possible” in South Caucasus The United States continues to believe that peace is possible in the South Caucasus, Vedant Patel said. |