Activists called on US and EU to use sanctions in response to Mekhman Aliev’s arrest

The arrest of Mekhman Aliev, Director of the “Turan” News Agency, has to do with his independent position and free expression of opinion on situation in Azerbaijan, opposition activists are sure. Repression will continue unless the United States (US) and the European Union (EU) introduce sanctions against violators of human rights, they have stated.

On August 26, on the initiative of the Centre for the Defence of Political Prisoners, politicians, civil society activists and media professionals discussed and condemned the arrest of Mekhman Aliev.

Isa Gambar, the head of the Centre for the National Strategic Thought, is sure that the main motive for Aliev's arrest was that "he is the head of an independent information structure."

Ali Kerimli, the leader of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA), pointed out that, by arresting Aliev, the authorities are challenging the international community.

Arif Gadjily, the leader of the “Musavat” Party, has urged political forces to consolidate, because "otherwise it’s impossible to achieve changes in the country." He noted that in 2018 Azerbaijan will have its presidential election.

Following the discussion, it was decided to set up the public committee "Freedom to Mekhman!".

Local rights defenders, members of the working group for unified list of political prisoners, have recognized Mekhman Aliev to be a political prisoner.

The working group calls on the UN, the Council of Europe, the OSCE, the EU, the World Bank and other international political and economic organizations "to stop ignoring the oppression of civil society in Azerbaijan and impose sanctions against those responsible for human rights violations in the country."

The international organizations "Reporters Without Borders" and the Human Rights House Foundation have also condemned Mekhman Aliev's arrest.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.