Azerbaijan Institute for Democracy and Human Rights

Prison Service: State of Leyla Yunus Normal

The Prison Service has denied the statement of lawyers on the deteriorating health status of the human rights activist Leyla Yunus. “Reports of health problems at Leyla Yunus are unfounded. Leyla Yunus is in a normal state of health, any there are no issues of concern for her health,” the public relations department of the […]

The term of Intigam Aliyev’s arrest extended for three months

Today the Nasimi District Court of Baku considered the submission of the prosecution to extend the arrest of the head of the Legal Education Society Intigam Aliyev. The court granted  the request and extended the arrest of well-known lawyer and human rights activist for three months, until February 8, 2015, according to the lawyer Jawad […]

“Re-establishing of human rights working group is an encouraging step“ – AIDHR

Ahmad Shahidov: “Restoring dialogue between the state and civil society worth appreciations” Following his telephone conversation with Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan on August 12 Thorbjørn Jagland, Secretary General of the Council of Europe made a statement. The statement reads that human rights working group would be re-established and representative of the […]

Parliament tightens the requirements for foreign donors

The Milli Majlis amended the legislation on NGOs introducing toughened conditions for the activities of foreign donors. In particular, amendments were adopted to the laws “On the non-governmental organizations (public associations and foundations)” and “On Grants.” Thus, the new wording of Article 24.2 of the Law “On NGOs” reads that the work and services provided […]

Rally in support of Leyla and Arif Yunus in Moscow

On October 9, at 15:00 a group of local human rights defenders held a protest action in front of the Azerbaijani Embassy in Moscow demanding freedom of Leyla Yunus arrested in Baku. The protest action was initiated by the well-known Russian human rights activist Svetlana Gannushkina. One of the protesters, Varvara Parkhomenko, wrote on her […]

Malala Yousufzai – Nobel Laureate

Nobel Peace Prize in 2014 was given to the Pakistani human rights activist Malala Yousufzai and the Indian fighter for the rights of children Kailash Satyarthi. Malala Yousufzai became world famous after she started a blog for BBC at the beginning of 2009 at the age of 11. In it, she talked about the details […]

Intigam Aliyev continues advocacy in jail

The lawyer Anar Gasymly visited the human rights defender Intigam Aliyev in Baku Prison N1 on September 6. However wardens again censored the records prepared by the human rights activist for the lawyer. Turan was told by Aliyev’s relatives. In particular, they prohibited the transfer of an appeal to the leadership of the detention center […]

At the trial in the case of E.Mammadov victims and witnesses confuse testimonies

Trial in the case of Emil Mammadov, the  head of the NGO “Promotion of Democracy” from  the Salyan continued today in the Lankaran Court of Grave Crimes. Mammadov was detained on 13 May, and was arrested on charges of extortion (Article 182.2.2). The arrest was based on the  testimonies of Tofig Gasimov, employee  of Mammadov […]

Prison Service: Rights of Leyla Yunus not limited

The Prison Service has denied reports of poor conditions of Leyla Yunus in prison in Kurdakhani. The Prison Service representative Yashar Isakov told Turan that such reports are untrue. In the Baku detention facility the rights of all persons held there are guaranteed. They use the telephone, receive parcels and medical assistance, walk, etc. “Statements […]

Gubad Ibadoglu: Accusations against NGOs is absurdity

The Nasimi and Sabail district courts arrested bank accounts  of the known economic expert Gubad Ibadoglu and the  Center for Civic Initiatives (CCI) led by him. Last week Ibadoglu himself  was questioned as a witness in the Investigation Department of the Prosecutor General for Serious Crimes in the case against local and foreign NGOs.  Ibadoglu […]

Pressure on Leyla Yunus does not stop in jail

The arrested human rights activist Leyla Yunus sent to the Committee for the Protection of her rights a letter, which reports on pressure on her in the Baku Prison N 1. This was at the committee meeting on Saturday said the journalist Khadija Ismail. According to her, the pressure on Yunus is exerted by Nurida […]

Police detains a leading columnist of “Azadlig”

On August 29 afternoon, police detained Seymur Hazi, one of the leading columnists of the newspaper “Azadlig”. “When he left the house and was going to work, he was stopped by police and taken to the police department of Absheron district. The reason for the detention is unknown, Seymur’s phone is off ,” said the […]

Court upholds Rasul Jafarov in custody

Baku Court of Appeal (ALS) considered the complaint of human rights activist Rasul Jafarov asking to replace his arrest on house arrest. The appeal stated that Jafarov does not intend to hide from the investigation or influence the investigation, told the lawyer Fariz Namazly. If Jafarov was going to hide , he would not go […]

Trial in the case of human rights defender

On August 29 the Khatai District Court will start a trail in the case of Ali Gyulaliyev, junior son of the human rights activist Oktay Gyulalyev. On July 20, 2014 the Criminal Investigation Police Baku filed a lawsuit against Ali Gyulaliyev under the Article 221.1 (hooliganism.) The teenager is charged with a fight at school […]

8 international organizations call to Investigate brutal attack on Ilgar Nasibov

The brutal attack on the journalist Ilgar Nasibov, in Nakhichevan, Azerbaijan, is an outrage and Azerbaijan’s authorities should ensure a prompt, effective and impartial investigation, Front Line Defenders, Human Rights House Foundation, Norwegian Helsinki Committee, Rafto Foundation for Human Rights, People in Need, Human Rights Watch, ARTICLE 19 and Reporters without borders said today. The […]

Appeal by Hasan Huseynli

The Ganja Court of Appeal chaired by Badal Aliyev held a preliminary hearing on the appeal of the head of the Educational Center of Ganja, Hasan Huseynli. Hearing on the merits is scheduled for September 9, the lawyer Elchin Sadigov told Turan. The defense applied for replacement of arrest by house arrest, and for conducting […]

Confidentiality of correspondence of lawyer Intigam Aliyev violated in jail

The Baku prison number 1 violated the confidentiality of correspondence of the contained therein human rights defender Intigam Aliyev and his lawyer Anar Gasymly. As the lawyer told Turan, there are no problems with the conditions of Aliyev. However, bureaucratic obstacles are created to the realization of the right to defense. So records prepared by […]

IRFS shames the Council of Europe

The Institute for Reporters’ Freedom and Safety (IRFS) stated that it is in shock after a near-fatal attack on the well-known journalist Ilgar Nasibov in Azerbaijan. With this attack, which was particularly shocking in its violence, the alarming deterioration of human rights record has reached the point of no-return. According to the statement, a journalist […]

Kuradahani jail accepts the transfer to Leyla Yunus

Jamil Hasanli, a Chairman of the National Council and a family friend of Leyla Yunus, MD Azad Isazade visited Kurdakhani jail. They took the package to human rights activist Leyla Yunus. According to Jamil Hasanli, they also requested a meeting with Yunus, but this was denied, but did not exclude that there will be such […]

Beaten activist Nasibov – in intensive care

The condition of the beaten the night before Nakhchivan human rights activist and journalist Ilgar Nasibov remains hard. He was placed in the intensive care unit of a local hospital. Morning of August 22 the spouse of Ilgar, Malahat Nasibova told Turan that he had a severe concussion, broken cheekbones, nose and ribs, bleeding wounds […]

Arif Yunus received the first transfer of food and medicine

The first time since his arrest on August 4, the political expert Arif Yunus was able to get a transfer of food and medicine. The Department of Homeland Security allowed the family friend Azad Isazadeh to pass Yunusov a parcel. A day earlier, the President of the National Council Jamil Hasanli and several Council members […]

Hasanov: Azerbaijan does not comply with the CE penal rules

Former political prisoners are concerned about the conditions of the “prisoners of conscience,” said Elshan Hasanov, the coordinator of the Public Alliance “Azerbaijan has no political prisoners.” Despite old age and disease, a known human rights activist Leyla Yunus is kept in intolerable conditions. She is not provided with proper medical care, cannot receive the […]

A number of organizations supporting a single list of political prisoners grows

Public Alliance “Azerbaijan has no political prisoners” issued a statement in support of a single list of political prisoners. The statement authors argue that the list reflects the real picture, and it has been prepared on the basis of the criteria set forth in PACE Resolution on October 3, 2012 N 1900. This list includes […]

International institutions troubled about health of Leyla Yunus

The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint programme of the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) and the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), has received new information and requests urgent intervention in the following situation in Azerbaijan. The statement says that the Observatory has been informed by reliable sources about the […]

Leyla Yunus in serious condition – lawyer

On August 19 the lawyer Alaif Hasanov visited in detention the human rights defenders Leila Yunus and Intigam Aliyev, reported Radio Liberty. “Leila Yunus is contained in a cell measuring 12 square meters, where there are also 6 people. There’s no air and there is a special attitude towards the prisoners. In particular, into the […]