Azerbaijani activist Rahimova fears arrest
Trade union activist Sara Rahimova was unable to clarify the reasons for her travel ban from Azerbaijan and the criminal case against her, despite the investigator promising to contact her on February 23.
As reported by the "Caucasian Knot," police in Baku detained trade union activist Sara Rahimova on February 21 and informed her of a travel ban, citing her status as a suspect in a criminal case. After her release, Rahimova linked the criminal prosecution to her public activities.
Sara Rahimova is a board member of the alternative Trade Union Confederation "Workers' Platform." Despite the arrests of trade union activists, the Workers' Platform continues its activities, Ragimova told the Caucasian Knot in October 2024. "Due to the arrest of the chairman of our trade union confederation, Afiyaddin Mamedov, the organization is now led by a five-member board. One of the organization's priorities is protecting the rights of our arrested comrades—Afiyaddin Mamedov, Elvin Mustafayev, Aykhan Israfilov, and Mohyaddin Orujov. We attend their trials, organize support groups for them, and inform the public about the falsification of criminal cases against them," Ragimova said. She also said that the "Working Platform" is conducting educational activities on social media to explain workers' rights.
During the day of February 23, Rahimova was unable to find out why she was banned from leaving Azerbaijan or what criminal case this restriction was related to. "On Saturday, February 21, at the Sabail District Police Department in Baku, they told me that an investigator would contact me on February 23 to clarify all the issues. But on Monday, no one from the police called me, and no one invited me there. On Saturday, I asked for the investigator's name and phone number, but they didn't give me this information," Sara Rahimova told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.
According to Rahimova, the lack of information and uncertainty makes her even more alarmed. "Since all of this is being kept secret, it's possible they're preparing for my arrest. I was only given the criminal case number, and I learned about it two days ago when I went to pick up my passport," Ragimova noted.
The activist is convinced that the criminal case is related to her public activities. "Whatever they accuse me of, it will be related to my public activities, as I've never committed any criminal offenses. Over the past two years, I've been detained, questioned about our work, our organization, but there has never been any official investigation," Ragimova said.
Sara Ragimova is 29 years old and a hydrometeorologist by profession. "I'm currently unemployed, but I'm conducting independent scientific research in my field, ecology. We also engage in community work, protecting citizens' labor rights," Ragimova noted. Ragimova's colleagues at the Workers' Platform also believe the proposed criminal case against her is related to her community work. “Currently, as a board member, Sara plays a leading role in our organization. In addition to educating workers about their rights and providing them with advisory assistance, we also protect the rights of our arrested comrades Afiaddin Mamedov, Elvin Mustafayev, Ayhan Israfilov, and Mohyaddin Orujov. In these matters, Sara is the one who communicates with the media the most,” said one of the activists of the “Working Platform”, who wished to remain anonymous.
The detention of Rahimova at the ASAN center (a citizen service center under the state agency for social services and innovation - ed. “Caucasian Knot”) should be considered a violation of personal freedom, according to a legal expert and former member Yalchin Imanov, Azerbaijan Bar Association.
"The right to liberty may be restricted only in the manner prescribed by law through detention, imprisonment, or imprisonment. All such decisions must be based on reasoned decisions by the relevant authorities. If a person is suspected of a criminal case, the police must officially notify them of this. The person must know what they are suspected of and have the opportunity to appeal it," he told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.
Imanov also noted that imposing a ban on a person leaving the country without informing them of it is unlawful. "In Sara Rahimova's case, her detention was completely unlawful. This violates Article 5.1 (the right to personal security) of the European Convention on Human Rights and Article 28 of the Constitution of Azerbaijan. A person comes to pick up a passport and discovers there's a criminal case against them. Unfortunately, such vicious practices are widespread in Azerbaijan. People are very easily banned from leaving the country, even though they are merely acting as witnesses," the lawyer said.
He believes Rahimova has the right to appeal the actions of law enforcement officers through judicial review. Caucasian Knot was unable to obtain comment from the Azerbaijani Ministry of Internal Affairs regarding Rahimova's criminal case and her travel ban from Azerbaijan.