AI states deterioration of human rights situation in Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan continues crackdown on the civil society and persecution of the political dissent: human rights organizations were unable to resume their work; and at least 18 "prisoners of conscience" are in custody. These are the conclusions of the Amnesty International (AI).

Its annual report notes that the Azerbaijani authorities are persecuting independent journalists and activists, both domestically and abroad.

Besides, the fall of world oil prices contributed to devaluation of the national currency and rise in prices, which led to decline in real people's incomes. The first European Games, held in Baku in June 2015, were economically costly, and were accompanied by reports about pressure on businesses and cuts in salaries of public sector employees in order to provide monetary support for the Games.

The section "Freedom of Association" indicates that the leading human rights NGOs were unable to resume their work because of freezing their accounts and the persecution campaign, including initiation of criminal cases against activists thereof.

The authors of the report note in the section "Freedom of Expression" that the vast majority of mass media remain under the govt's control; and in 2015, independent media were subjected to harassment and closure; while independent journalists are facing threats and violence.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.