AI points to Azerbaijani authorities' abuse of coronavirus situation

The human rights organization "Amnesty International" (AI) has mentioned Azerbaijan among the countries that are using restrictions imposed during the pandemic for repressing govt's opponents.

In Eastern Europe and Central Asia, governments are reacting to the COVID-19 pandemic with repressive and violent measures that are inconsistent with their human rights obligations, the AI stated in its April 28 report posted on the AI's website.

"As the COVID-19 pandemic unfolds, it seems that many governments are sooner interested in suppressing the dissent than in protecting public health," said Heather McGill, the AI's Central Asia researcher.

Azerbaijan is mentioned among the countries where measures against coronavirus are used against critics of the authorities.

The AI's report has mentioned an appeal of Ilham Aliev, the Azerbaijani President, to the nation, in which he "announced the new rules" during the COVID-19 pandemic, including "isolation" and "cleansing" of the already fragmented political opposition of Azerbaijan.

The report also notes that the rules of movement introduced during the quarantine regime in Azerbaijan became a reason for abuse by law enforcers, who are using these rules for accusing activists of violating the self-isolation regime, the AI's report has stated.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on April 29, 2020 at 10:38 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.