ECtHR finds violation of Azerbaijani rights defenders' rights

The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has recognized a violation of the rights of three Azerbaijani activists under the article of "the freedom of association" of the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR) and obliged Azerbaijan to pay them 4500 euros as compensation of their suffered moral harm.

The applicants in the case of "Djafarov et al vs. Azerbaijan" were the activists, Rasul Djafarov, Emin Guseinov and Sabukhi Gafarov. Azerbaijani authorities refused to register the Human Rights Club (HRC) established by them in 2010 for conducting human rights activities.

The ECtHR has found that the legislation of Azerbaijan on registration was not clear and admitted various interpretations.

The ECtHR also took into account that the applicants were persecuted in their country. Thus, Djafarov was arrested in 2014 on charges of economic crimes and sentenced to six years in prison (he was pardoned in March 2016, – note of the "Caucasian Knot"). Gafarov and Guseinov were forced to leave the country for fear of persecutions.

Rasul Djafarov has expressed satisfaction with the ECtHR's decision. According to his story, the absence of registration restricts the activities of the HRC.