00:50, 18 August 2014

CRD calls for release of Azerbaijani human rights defender Rasul Jafarov

Installation in support of Rasul Jafarov, who celebrated his 30th birthday in custody. Photo: Civil Rights Defenders http://www.civilrightsdefenders.org/featured/rasul-jarafov-spends-his-30th-birthday-behind-bars/

On August 17, the international human rights organization "Civil Rights Defenders" (CRD) called on for immediate release of Rasul Jafarov, an Azerbaijani journalist and human rights defender, who celebrated his 30th birthday in custody.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in July, Rasul Jafarov, a coordinator of the campaign "Art for Democracy", was banned from leaving Azerbaijan, and his bank accounts were arrested. On August 2, the human rights defender was arrested for three month on charges under articles "illegal entrepreneurship", "tax evasion", and "abuse of power" of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan.

"The suppression of civil society in Azerbaijan once again demonstrates how the Aliev's regime continues to use authoritarian methods of administration, despite the fact that the country chairs the Council of Europe," said Robert Hard, the Executive Director of the CRD.

The information about the actions of solidarity to mark the Rasul Jafarov's birthday has been received by the SMS-service of the "Caucasian Knot". In particular, on August 17, human rights defenders from different countries posted on their pages in social networks photos of Rasul Jafarov with compliments and tags of #freerasul.