![]() ![]() Applications to hold protests in Baku were repeatedly denied throughout the year. For example, throughout the year, but especially in the spring, several political protests calling for democratic reform and the government’s resignation were forcefully dispersed, and 15 protesters were sentenced to 18 months to three years in jail for their participation in such protests. The most significant human rights problem during the year was the restriction of freedoms of expression, assembly, and association. Security forces reported to civilian authorities. ![]() The government did not exercise any control over developments in those territories. Ethnic Armenian separatists, with Armenia’s support, continued to control most of the Nagorno-Karabakh region of the country and seven surrounding Azerbaijani territories. ![]() Although there were more than 50 political parties, the president’s party, the Yeni Azerbaijan Party, dominated the political system. November 2010 Milli Mejlis elections did not meet a number of key standards of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) for democratic elections. In practice the president dominated the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government. Legislative authority is vested in the Milli Mejlis (parliament). The Azerbaijan constitution provides for a republic with a presidential form of government. Western Hemisphere (Latin America, the Caribbean, Canada).Near East (northern Africa, Middle East).Counterterrorism & Countering Violent Extremism.Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment.Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights.Arms Control and International Security.Alphabetical List of Bureaus and Offices. ![]() They should send another strong message to Azerbaijan’s authorities that business as usual is not possible when Huseynov and others like him remain behind bars. Next week, the European Parliament will debate an urgent resolution on Huseynov’s case. The authorities should immediately free Huseynov, drop all charges, and hold abusive officials to account. Huseynov and Ibrahim are among dozens of journalists, bloggers, and activists in prison on politically motivated charges in Azerbaijan. Ibrahim was arrested in 2016, and in September 2018, two days before his scheduled release, the authorities claimed they found a knife in his cell and pressed additional charges. Today, a court added six months to the three-year term being served by Mammad Ibrahim, advisor to the opposition Azerbaijan Popular Front Party chairman. This would not be the first time the authorities used false charges to keep government critics in jail. However, neither of Huseynov’s lawyers were notified of any court hearing, if it took place. Huseynov was placed in a solitary confinement and then transferred to a remand prison – a decision that requires a court order. Huseynov’s lawyers requested access to the surveillance videos from the area, but officials have said the surveillance cameras don’t have recording memory cards. As they were waiting, Huseynov, with his back turned to Abdalov, heard him fall to the ground and shout that Huseynov had attacked him. After the deputy left, Huseynov remained alone with another prison official, Lieutenant Ali Abdalov. Fearing a setup, Huseynov requested that fellow inmates and other prison officials be present. He told his lawyers, that on December 26, during a routine inspection, the deputy warden took him to another room, where he said Huseynov would be searched. Huseynov vehemently denies the charges and went on a hunger strike in protest. If convicted, he could face seven more years in prison. On December 26, two months before his prison term was to end, the authorities brought new, spurious charges, claiming Huseynov resisted and physically assaulted a guard. Huseynov has been serving a 2-year prison sentence after he was prosecuted for defaming an entire police station in Baku, because he publicized abuse he’d suffered there. As everyone was celebrating the New Year, Azerbaijan authorities were busy pressing new charges against one of the country’s most popular anti-corruption bloggers, Mehman Huseynov. Azerbaijan authorities know no limits when it comes to silencing government critics. ![]()
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