Free Anar Mammadli ! Chronicle of the arrest
On December 16th Anar Mammadli, chairman of EMDS, Baku, and board member of EPDE has been imprisoned for a three months pre-trial detention. Anar Mammadli risks up to five years of imprisonment if convicted. This is an attempt to destroy independent and critical election observation in Azerbaijan one year ahead of the Parliamentary elections and a reaction to EMDS' critical assessment of the Presidential elections in October 2013. Anar Mammadli has to be released immediately!
Chronicle of the arrest
29 Januar 2014
PACE members demand liberation of Anar Mammadli. See Written declaration initiated by Swedish PACE member Tina Acketoft (ALDE): Free Azerbajan's Human Rights Defender and Election Observer Anar Mammadli
16 January 2014
Statement of Azebaijani President Ilham Aliyev at NATO press conference 15 January 2013 in Brussels, that no political prisoners exist in his country.
14 January 2014
6 January 2014
International Human Rights Protection Association Statement about arrest of Anar Mammadli.
24 December 2013
Statement of representatives of Azerbaijan’s civil society.
23 December 2013
Amnesty International Public Statement (Freedom of expression, NGOs and Civil Society, Anar Mammadli's case)
20 December 2013
PACE repporteurs concerned about pre-trial detention of Anar Mammadli (full report available here)
US ambassador to OSCE calls to release Anar Mammadli immediately
EU HR Ashton and Commissioner Füle: Statement on the detention of Mr Anar Mammadli, chairman of the Election Monitoring and Democracy Studies Centre in Azerbaijan
Civil society organisations of Azerbaijan: Joint Statemetnt of the Civil Societ of Azerbaijan
Head of Norwegian OSCE/PA delegation is concerned over the arrest of Anar Mammadli and fears it is politically motivated
19 December 2013
Canadas Honourable Deepak Obhrai, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and for International Human Rights: Canada Concerned About Detention of Election Monitoring NGO Chairman in Azerbaijan
18 December 2013
European Parliament:
Open letter to Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan
Deomratic Institutions and Human Rights Social Union: The government started to arrest active members of civil society in Azerbaijan
Amnesty International: Detained election watchdog chief must get fair trial
OSCE PA: OSCE Parliamentary leaders disturbed by arrest of Azerbaijani election monitor
Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum: Statement on arrest of Anar Mammadli
ENEMO: Letter of support to ENEMO member in Azerbaijan
Marieluise Beck (German Bundestag, Greens): Free immediately prominent human rights defender (DE)
Christopher Staesser (German Bundestag, Social-Democrats): Statement on detention of Anar Maammadli (DE)
US Embassy in Baku: Ambassador Morningstar's Statement on Detention of Anar Mammadli (source: http://azerbaijan.usembassy.gov/)
Press
NYT: Arrest of dissident overshadows UK-backed Azeri pipeline deal
Deutschlandradio: Azerbaijan: Kritik ist nicht erwünscht
Frontline Defenders: Human rights defender Mr Anar Mammadli in pre-trial detention for criminal charges
17 December 2013
Human Rights House: Head of independent election monitoring group must be released
Norwegian Helsinki Committee: NHC protests against arrest of independent election observer Anar Mammadli in Baku
OSCE/ODIHR expresses concern about the arrest of Mammadli
EPDE issues statement protesting the arrest of Mammadl
Press
Contact (AZ): It turnes out that Anar Mamedli rigged elections (last access: 18.12.13)
16 December 2013
Anar Mammadli imprisoned for a three months pre-trial detention through the Nasimin District Court in Baku. He faces criminal charges on tax evasion in significant amount, excess of official powers and engaging in illegal business activities and risks up to five years of prison.
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EMDS Information on the arrest of its chairman Anar Mammadli