5,5 years of prison for EPDE board member Anar Mammadli
Baku, 27th May 2014
On 26th May 2014, the Baku Court of Grave Crimes sentenced Anar Mammadli, chairman of EMDS (Election Monitoring and Democracy Studies Centre) and EPDE board member to 5.5 years of imprisonment. His deputy Bashir Suleymanli was sentenced to 3,5 years and arrested in the courtroom. The head of the Public Association for International Cooperation of Volunteers Elnur Mammadov was given the same term with 2 years on probation.
They were found guilty under Articles 179.3.2 (appropriation in significant size), 192.2.2 (illegal entrepreneurship by an organized group), 213.1 (tax evasion), 308.2 (abuse of official authority with grave consequences) and 313 (service forgery) of the Criminal Code.
EPDE and its member organization EMDS consider the sentence groundless and unjust, and demand the remission of the sentence and immediate release of convicted in unfair trial Anar Mammadli, Bashir Suleymanli and Elnur Mammadov.
This trial is a reaction to EMDS' critical assessment of the Presidential elections in October 2013, an attempt to destroy independent and critical citizens’ election observation in Azerbaijan and a proof of political discrimination that dominates the judicial system of Azerbaijan.
The Republic of Azerbaijan has just taken the chairmanship of the council of ministers of the Council of Europe. We appeal to all member states of the Council of Europe to protest this unacceptable violation of the European Convention of Human Rights.
A criminal case was opened at the end of October 2013. Anar Mammadli was in pre-trial detention since 16 December 2013, and the other two were under house arrest. Amnesty International Organization considers Anar Mammadli to be a prisoner of conscience. A criminal case was opened at the end of October 2013 and the other two were under house arrest.
More information here
Chronicle of the arrest
3 July 2014
Press
gozetci.az. Anar Mammadli:“We will fight with an honor for election monitoring and freedom of association”
26 May 2014
Baku Court of Grave Crimes sentenced Anar Mammadli to 5.5 years of imprisonment. His deputy Bashir Suleymanli was sentenced to 3,5 years and arrested in the courtroom. Elnur Mammadov was given the same term with 2 years on probation.
Press
WorldBulletin Azerbaijan sentences election watchdog chief to jail
Human rights commissioner Nils Muižnieks expresses concerns about the arrest of Anar Mammadli under investigation for illegal business, tax evasion and abuse of power. Read more
21 April 2014
Baku Court of Grave Crimes dismissed on the first court hearing on April 21st the laywers' petitions to discontinue the criminal case against EPDE board member Anar Mammadli, his deputy Bashir Suleimanli and Elnur Mammadov, Director ICV. The petition to change the pre-trial detention of Anar Mammadli into house arrest was denied as well.
Please find a report written by Bashir Suleymanli (EMDS) here.
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