UN experts call on Azerbaijani government to stop prosecuting rights defenders

UN experts in the field of human rights protection demanded from the government of Azerbaijan to stop the prosecution of rights defenders. The Institute for Reporters' Freedom and Safety (IRFS) has demanded to return to the NGO its confiscated equipment and release the rights defenders.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on July 30, in Azerbaijan, four well-known activists of civil society were arrested, including Rasul Jafarov, a coordinator of the campaign "Art for Democracy", Leyla and Arif Yunus, rights defenders of the Institute for Peace and Democracy (IPD), and Intigam Aliev, the head of the Legal Education Society (LES).

The appeal posted on the website of the Geneva branch of the organization was signed by three UN Special Rapporteurs: Michael Forst, Maina Kiai, and David Kaye.

This is the third time when the UN experts express their concern over the deteriorating situation with human rights in Azerbaijan during the past year. They have also reminded the Azerbaijani authorities of the international obligations "to ensure that all citizens of Azerbaijan have the right to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association."

In its turn, the Azerbaijani IRFS has strongly condemned the "unprecedented attacks on rights defenders and independent NGOs."

Meanwhile, the Azerbaijani government rejects criticism of the actions of law enforcement bodies in relation to NGOs and activists.