UN special rapporteurs urge Azerbaijan to stop the persecution of the human rights defenders

Baku. August 20. REPORT.AZ/ UN human rights experts called on Azerbaijan to stop the persecution of human rights defenders.

Report informs citing to the press service of the United Nations, it was said in the statement of UN Special rapporteurs .

UN experts David Kay, Mayna Kay and Michel Forst, in particular, refer to the arrest of the Director of the Institute for Peace and Democracy Leyla Yunus, her spouse, an expert conflictologist Arif Yunus, chairman of the Human Rights Club of Rasul Jafarov, and the head of "Legal Education Society" of Intigam Aliyev.

“It is necessary to stop criminalization of human rights activists. Those who have been unreasonably detained for human rights activities, should be released immediately “- said the UN independent experts.

They reminded the authorities about their legal obligations under international law, which guarantees the right to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association to all population of Azerbaijan. “The main task of the state - is to protect civil society from oppression, harassment, intimidation or attacks”, - stressed the special rapporteurs. 

UN Special Rapporteurs are independent experts appointed by the Council and the Human Rights.

Earlier, commenting on the arrest of Leyla Yunus and her spouse, the Head of the department of social and political issues of the Presidential Administration Ali Hasanov said that the charges against them are made on the basis of serious facts. “Only the court  will determine how well-founded  the allegations are. Attempts of the various circles in abroad and inside the country to politicize the issue and to  cast a shadow over the activities of relevant bodies will bring no result. All are equal before the law, and everyone should be responsible for their actions”- Hasanov stated.