Azerbaijani human rights defenders and journalists demand access to courts

At a protest action, activists called on the Judicial-Legal Council of Azerbaijan to ensure the transparency of court hearings and allow the presence of human rights defenders and media.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that on May 25, the Baku Court on Grave Crimes held a hearing on the case of Pyunkhakh Kerimli, an activist of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA). Journalists and human rights defenders were not allowed to attend the trial, and only Vakhid Kerimov, a father of the activist, was permitted to enter the courtroom.

The protest action in front of the building of the Judicial-Legal Council of Azerbaijan was organized by the “Line of Protection” NGO. “Over the recent two or three months, doors of the courts have been actually closed to members of our organization and independent journalists ... Supporters of accused activists are not allowed to attend political trials that cause public outcry,” said Zafar Akhmedov, a co-founder of the “Line of Protection” NGO.

He has also noted that denial of access to trials prevents human rights defenders from monitoring courts.

Rufat Safarov, the executive director of the “Line of Protection” NGO, associates the restriction of access to trials with the lack of independence of the judiciary.

The restriction of access to trials for media representatives and activists has become a “vicious tradition,” journalist Fatima Movlamly notes.