Threat of crisis spurs Azerbaijani authorities to tighten persecution of opposition

Azerbaijani authorities make a maximum use of quarantine restrictions to neutralize the opposition, since they fear mass protests amid the crisis caused by coronavirus and drop of oil prices, human rights defenders assert.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that by April 15, the Azerbaijani Public Committee against Repression and Torture counted 17 activists arrested during the quarantine.

Fines and arrests on charges of violating the quarantine regime are unlawful, said Yalchin Imanov, a legal expert, emphasizing that the law prescribes no restrictions on the freedom of citizens' movement.

"Faig Amirli, the financial director of the 'Azadlyg' newspaper, was detained at his home and arrested on charges of violating the quarantine regime for 30 days. However, he had an editorial certificate on him, and employees, according to the rules, need no special permit to leave home," Mr Imanov has stated.

"The introduction of quarantine caused a massive closure of jobs, which deprived people of incomes ... This will inevitably cause a surge of discontent," said Bakhtiyar Gadjiev, the head of the Institute for Public Policies.

Emin Guseinov, Executive Director of the Institute for Reporters' Freedom and Safety (IRFS), has suggested that the authorities are deliberately escalating the situation around the opposition, "in order to distract people from real problems."