STATEMENT BY THE CIVIC SOLIDARITY PLATFORM ON THE SITUATION IN BELARUS
22 September 2020
The undersigned organizations, members of the international NGO network “Civic Solidarity Platform”, have been following the events unfolding in Belarus in the recent months with increasing concern about actions of the authorities and with great respect towards the participants of peaceful protests.
We reiterate our solidarity with and support for peaceful protests of Belarusians against the flagrant violations of standards for the conduct of free and fair elections agreed in the OSCE. We admire the people in Belarus who are determined to stand up by peaceful means against the electoral fraud, violence and repression. We particularly commend active participation of Belarusian women in the political processes as engaged citizens, leaders, campaigners and voters. Persistence of the people of Belarus and their dedication to human rights, democracy and rule of law is truly inspiring for us, coming from many different countries.
We vehemently condemn the continuing violent crackdown brutally carried out with impunity by the Belarusian security forces, torture and ill-treatment, of hundreds of people on the streets, in police trucks and detention centers, enforced disappearance, arbitrary deprivation of life, mass arbitrary detention and arrests of participants of peaceful demonstrations, abduction and arbitrary expulsion, intimidation and unlawful, politically motivated persecution of independent journalists, human rights defenders, lawyers and labor and political activists, including members of the Coordination Council.
We welcome the efforts of all stakeholders and international partners to support the Belarusians who have chosen the path of peaceful transition towards a society founded on the values of democracy, human rights and the rule of law by actively defending their fundamental freedoms. We strongly support the invocation of the OSCE Moscow mechanism in relation to serious human rights violations in Belarus initiated by 17 OSCE Participating States on 17 September 2020. We also support the UN Human Rights Council Resolution on the situation of human rights in Belarus in the run-up to the 2020 presidential election and in its aftermath, and the European Parliament resolution, both adopted by a large majority of votes, and the recent statement of the PACE Legal Affairs Committee.
Strong and consistent reaction by inter-governmental bodies demonstrates the clear position of the international community on the situation in Belarus and its support to democratic aspirations of the Belarusian society. Prompt, impartial and comprehensive international investigation of gross human rights abuse in Belarus is urgent and will serve as an important condition for ending the crackdown, ensuring accountability for perpetrators and justice for victims, restoring fundamental rights and freedoms in the country, and paving a way to a democratic transition process.
The situation in Belarus requires quick and decisive actions and further steps need to be taken in order to ensure the future of independent and democratic Belarus.
We urge the authorities of Belarus to:
· Fulfil their obligations under international human rights treaties;
· Not stand in the way of a genuine, transparent and inclusive national dialogue to negotiate a peaceful and legal way out of the existing crisis; refrain from imitating national dialogue by staging communication and events with participation of government-controlled entities; engage in direct dialogue with the democratic opposition, independent groups and representatives of the protest movement, including Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and the Coordination Council, created at her initiative, and civil society;
· Fully cooperate with the mission of experts within the framework of the OSCE Moscow mechanism and with the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus, including by granting them free, full and unhindered access to the territory of the country, including unhindered access to all places of detention;
· Accept the offer extended by the current and incoming OSCE Chairpersons-in-office to assist in organizing a national dialogue process;
· Immediately stop unwarranted violence against the Belarusian people;
· immediately and unconditionally release and drop all charges against all persons detained for political reasons, including all persons detained for their participation in protests against the election results or against the violence used by the authorities or for their expressions of support to these protests;
· Hold an independent, prompt, thorough, transparent, effective and impartial investigation of cases of violence by law enforcement bodies and their proxies, with maximum transparency and under international control, and bring perpetrators to justice, to end impunity on the part of the security forces.
We call on the international community, and in particular the OSCE and its participating States and the European Union and its Member States to:
· Reinforce the support of the proposal by the current and incoming OSCE Chairpersons-in-office to assist in organizing a national dialogue process and continue efforts to bring the authorities of Belarus to agree with this offer; ensure that this offer stands only in the case of holding a genuine, transparent and inclusive dialogue, involving the democratic opposition, independent groups and representatives of the protest movement, including the Coordination Council, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, and civil society, and is withdrawn in the case the authorities imitate national dialogue by staging communication and events with participation of government-controlled entities and engage in “reforms” consolidating the authoritarian political system;
· Continue to seek input from the Coordination Council, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and civil society in designing international community’s steps addressing the situation in the country, invite their representatives in deliberations about these steps, and continue giving them voice and recognition;
· Insist towards the Belarusian authorities that any constitutional reform process can only take place in full transparency and with broad participation from society, including the Coordination Council and other democratic forces, and with assistance and expertise offered by ODIHR and the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe;
· Introduce targeted political and economic sanctions (both at the EU and national levels) against individuals, state and non-state actors and other entities responsible for the falsification of the election results and grave human rights abuse in Belarus, including high and middle-ranking officials as well as entrepreneurs and companies known for supporting the regime or dismissing their employees for participation in strikes;
· Apply the tool of universal jurisdiction to bring perpetrators of torture and ill-treatment in Belarus to justice;
· Freeze any fund transfers to the current Belarusian regime and projects implemented by the state bodies;
· Ensure a package of economic support for a democratic Belarus, including both the immediate support for civil society, human rights defenders, independent unions and independent media, victims of repressions and their families, and substantial, multi-billion Euro financial package of economic assistance to support future reform efforts and the restructuring of the economy after democratic, free and fair elections take place;
· Do everything necessary to counter hybrid threats from third parties and help protecting sovereignty and independence of Belarus from any attempts of a takeover and establishing external control;
· Ensure effective coordination of multilateral actions in respect of the situation in Belarus by various stakeholders, including intergovernmental organizations and concerned states, to exert sufficient international pressure on the authorities and provide adequate and timely support to democratic aspirations of the Belarusian society.
List of organizations supporting the statement:
1. Public Association “Human Rights Movement: Bir Duino-Kyrgyzstan”
2. Public Verdict Foundation, Russia
3. Belarusian Helsinki Committee
4. Human Rights Center ZMINA, Ukraine
5. Article 19, UK
6. Netherlands Helsinki Committee
7. Solidarus e.V., Germany
8. DRA – German-Russian Exchange, German
9. Center for the Development of Democracy and Human Rights, Russia
10. Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights, Poland
11. Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly – Vanadzor, Armenia
12. Center for Participation and Development, Georgia
13. The Barys Zvozskau Belarusian Human Rights House, Lithuania
14. Promo LEX Association, Moldova
15. Libereco Partnership for Human Rights, Germany
16. International Partnership for Human Rights, Belgium
17. Human Rights Center Memorial, Russia
18. Center for Civil Liberties, Ukraine
19. Norwegian Helsinki Committee
20. Women's International League for Peace and Freedom/WILPF, Germany
21. humanrights.ch, Switzerland
22. Human Rights Center of Azerbaijan
23. Freedom Files, Poland
24. World Organization against Torture (OMCT), Belgium
25. Public Association Dignity, Kazakhstan
26. Truth Hounds, Ukraine
27. Human Rights Matter, Germany
28. Human Rights Monitoring Institute, Lithuania
29. The Georgian Centre for Psychosocial and Medical Rehabilitation of Torture Victims – GCRT
30. Human Rights Center Viasna, Belarus
31. Swedish OSCE Network
32. IDP Women Association “Consent”, Georgia
Photo credit: TUT.BY
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Civic Solidarity Platform statement
U.S. racism and police violence and the human dimension heritage of the OSCE
The undersigned organizations, members of the Civic Solidarity Platform, express their concern regarding the United States government’s response to widespread peaceful protests against police violence. The protests, begun in response to an extrajudicial killing of a citizen by a police officer, have been largely peaceful and law-abiding. In response, police officers have repeatedly escalated encounters with protesters and used unwarranted violence. Police departments have applied military gear and tanks more appropriate for war than for calming a civilian demonstration. And the President of the United States has urged state governors to increase violent responses, and expressed his intent to call in active duty military soldiers. The state response, which has threatened peaceful civilians and journalists, violates international standards on the use of force and policing of assemblies and OSCE commitments and guidance by OSCE bodies. A central document in this guidance are the Guidelines on Freedom of Peaceful Assembly issued by OSCE/ODIHR and the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe. Key provisions from this document form the core of the Civic Solidarity Platform’s Bratislava Declaration of December 2019, which called on OSCE participating states to review their compliance with these standards, and to strengthen ODIHR’s monitoring and advisory activities relating to the right to peaceful assembly.
The demonstrations began with the killing on 25 May of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer. The incident occurred while many civil society organizations and governments gathered for an OSCE Supplementary Human Dimension Meeting on “Addressing All Forms of Intolerance and Discrimination”. Participants were unable to bring attention to the issue at the meeting, but the legitimate passion of these demonstrations should be addressed through all possible means by all OSCE interlocutors with the United States government. Endemic racism, inequality, and racially-motivated violence should be confronted by all those in positions of authority in the US.
As we noted in the Bratislava Declaration: “Assemblies contribute to conflict prevention and peace.” It is well established that neither the use of violence by a small number of people nor damage to property suspend the right to protest of all those gathered and do not provide a license to escalate police responses or to use excessive or deadly force In all circumstances, the police response must remain within the limits of the law and seek to de-escalate rather than inflame interactions with the public by resorting to life-threatening weapons.
The far-reaching militarization of the police, both in equipment and approach, should be questioned fundamentally. The deployment of almost 80,000 National Guard soldiers, including more than 37,400 taking part in COVID-19 response efforts and more than 41,500 on duty in 33 states and Washington, D.C., in response to civil unrest. President Donald Trump’s exhortations for greater use of violence on social media and in a phone conversation with state governors, and his threat to deploy federal armed forces against protestors only place more lives at risk.
The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media has already expressed his concern regarding “the wave of violence against journalists covering protests. (...) Many of these incidents involved arrests and use of force by police, including rubber bullets, pepper bullets, tear gas and pepper spray, as well as acts of violence by protesters,” In many instances it appeared police knowingly used violence against journalists without justification. The OSCE Representative called on the authorities “to exercise restraint and to ensure that journalists can work safely while reporting on public protests.”
We call on all those within the OSCE, its independent institutions and all participating states to urge relevant U.S. authorities to utilize the OSCE’s 30 years of experience in advising states on effective and community-oriented policing practices, in the management of assemblies, and in redressing fundamental and deep-rooted ethnic inequalities. This includes the ODIHR, the expertise of NGOs in member states, and the experience of fellow OSCE participating state governments. We also call on the government of the United States to observe OSCE standards and human rights norms it has agreed to uphold.
Demonstrations in solidarity with the U.S. protestors against systemic racism and violent and one-sided policing practices are being held in a range of OSCE countries. These protests have started to also call attention to the state of affairs on these issues in their own countries. We call on all OSCE participating states to engage in a profound debate about these demands, taking into consideration conclusions and recommendations from international review bodies such as the UN’s Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and of the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance
U.S. racism and police violence and the human dimension heritage of the OSCE
The undersigned organizations, members of the Civic Solidarity Platform, express their concern regarding the United States government’s response to widespread peaceful protests against police violence. The protests, begun in response to an extrajudicial killing of a citizen by a police officer, have been largely peaceful and law-abiding. In response, police officers have repeatedly escalated encounters with protesters and used unwarranted violence. Police departments have applied military gear and tanks more appropriate for war than for calming a civilian demonstration. And the President of the United States has urged state governors to increase violent responses, and expressed his intent to call in active duty military soldiers. The state response, which has threatened peaceful civilians and journalists, violates international standards on the use of force and policing of assemblies and OSCE commitments and guidance by OSCE bodies. A central document in this guidance are the Guidelines on Freedom of Peaceful Assembly issued by OSCE/ODIHR and the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe. Key provisions from this document form the core of the Civic Solidarity Platform’s Bratislava Declaration of December 2019, which called on OSCE participating states to review their compliance with these standards, and to strengthen ODIHR’s monitoring and advisory activities relating to the right to peaceful assembly.
The demonstrations began with the killing on 25 May of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer. The incident occurred while many civil society organizations and governments gathered for an OSCE Supplementary Human Dimension Meeting on “Addressing All Forms of Intolerance and Discrimination”. Participants were unable to bring attention to the issue at the meeting, but the legitimate passion of these demonstrations should be addressed through all possible means by all OSCE interlocutors with the United States government. Endemic racism, inequality, and racially-motivated violence should be confronted by all those in positions of authority in the US.
As we noted in the Bratislava Declaration: “Assemblies contribute to conflict prevention and peace.” It is well established that neither the use of violence by a small number of people nor damage to property suspend the right to protest of all those gathered and do not provide a license to escalate police responses or to use excessive or deadly force In all circumstances, the police response must remain within the limits of the law and seek to de-escalate rather than inflame interactions with the public by resorting to life-threatening weapons.
The far-reaching militarization of the police, both in equipment and approach, should be questioned fundamentally. The deployment of almost 80,000 National Guard soldiers, including more than 37,400 taking part in COVID-19 response efforts and more than 41,500 on duty in 33 states and Washington, D.C., in response to civil unrest. President Donald Trump’s exhortations for greater use of violence on social media and in a phone conversation with state governors, and his threat to deploy federal armed forces against protestors only place more lives at risk.
The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media has already expressed his concern regarding “the wave of violence against journalists covering protests. (...) Many of these incidents involved arrests and use of force by police, including rubber bullets, pepper bullets, tear gas and pepper spray, as well as acts of violence by protesters,” In many instances it appeared police knowingly used violence against journalists without justification. The OSCE Representative called on the authorities “to exercise restraint and to ensure that journalists can work safely while reporting on public protests.”
We call on all those within the OSCE, its independent institutions and all participating states to urge relevant U.S. authorities to utilize the OSCE’s 30 years of experience in advising states on effective and community-oriented policing practices, in the management of assemblies, and in redressing fundamental and deep-rooted ethnic inequalities. This includes the ODIHR, the expertise of NGOs in member states, and the experience of fellow OSCE participating state governments. We also call on the government of the United States to observe OSCE standards and human rights norms it has agreed to uphold.
Demonstrations in solidarity with the U.S. protestors against systemic racism and violent and one-sided policing practices are being held in a range of OSCE countries. These protests have started to also call attention to the state of affairs on these issues in their own countries. We call on all OSCE participating states to engage in a profound debate about these demands, taking into consideration conclusions and recommendations from international review bodies such as the UN’s Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and of the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance
Statement against large-scale crack down on human rights activists and other individuals in the occupied Crimea
Today, on 27 March 2019, representatives of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) in the occupied Crimea raided houses of Crimean Tatars located in the city of Simferopol, Bilohirsky and Krasnohvardiysky rayons. Totally, around 27 houses were searched, at least 20 Crimean Tatars were apprehended and taken to the FSB office in Simferopol. This is the largest politically-motivated arrests campaign, conducted simultaneously against Crimean Tatar community (including the activists of the Crimean Solidarity movement) since the beginning of Crimea’s occupation by the RF. Detained persons are being accused of organising of (participating in) activities of Hizb ut-Tahrir religious organisation declared as a terrorist one by the RF.
We, the undersigned NGOs, are highly concerned with this new wave of mass searches and strongly condemn the systematic groundless persecution of the Crimean Tatars by the occupational authorities.
In light of the above-mentioned, we demand the authorities of the Russian Federation and the occupational Crimean authorities:
To immediately release detained Crimean Tatars. To conduct prompt, effective, and impartial investigation of unlawful detentions and instances of physical violence committed against activists in Crimea. To ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice. To take all the necessary measures to prevent such attacks in the future. To release the detainees and stop persecution of Crimean Tatars, Crimean Muslims, including administrative arrests, criminal charges, confiscation of property and other repressions.
We ask international organizations and foreign governments:
To continue putting pressure on the Russia’s government to stop persecution of Crimean Solidarity activists and other Crimean Tatar people. To condemn the use by Russia of its own “anti-terrorism and anti-extremism” legislation for prosecuting lawyers, human rights defenders and civil society activists in the occupied Crimea. To impose personal sanctions on persons involved into gross violations of human rights in the occupied Crimea, as well as on those directly involved in the obstruction of lawyers’ work and persecution of the members of the Crimean Solidarity movement. To strengthen sectoral sanctions against the Russian Federation for systematic gross violations of human rights and war crimes committed in the occupied Crimea.
Detailed information:
Searches were carried out in the houses of Crimean Tatar activists belonging to the Crimean Solidarity movement. This is a platform, which unites relatives of political prisoners and their lawyers, with the goal of helping all Kremlin’s hostages suffering from injustice in Crimea. In frames of their activity, members of Crimean Solidarity provide legal, financial and moral assistance to the victims and their relatives.
The Russian media reported that five individuals (Remzi Bekirov, Shaban Umerov, Riza Izetov, Farid Bazarov, Ruslan Suleymanov) are accused of organising activities of a terrorist organisation under Article 205.5, Section 1, of the Russian Criminal Code, while others of participating in activities of a terrorist organisation (Article 205.5, Section 2). FSB officers are still looking for another 4 Crimean Tatars. Due to this, FSB officers carry out searches in all the houses in Strohanivka village of Simferopol region, the whole area is blocked, checkpoints to examine the cars have been set up.
The charges are based on the Crimean Tatars’ alleged participation in the Hizb ut-Tahrir religious organisation, recognised as a terrorist one by the Russia’s Supreme Court in 2003. According to the Ukrainian legislation, Hizb ut-Tahrir’s activity is legitimate.
Moreover, the FSB officials acted in violation of the established rules: for instance, searches were carried out without a warrant, lawyers were not admitted to their clients, the FSB representatives damaged property in the searched houses.
It should be reminded that apart from those persons apprehended today, 33 Crimean Tatars have been already accused on similar charges. Among them is founder of the Crimean Contact Group Emir Usein Kuku, who continuously helped the families in search of their abducted relatives and protected rights of other victims of the human rights abuses. He has been imprisoned for more than 3 years already. All the leading human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, qualify his case as a politically motivated. The same relates to Server Mustafaev, one of the founders of the Crimean Solidarity movement.
Association of Relatives of Political Prisoners of the Kremlin
Center for Civil Liberties
Crimean Human Rights Group
CrimeaSOS Public Organisation
Human Rights Center ZMINA
Media Initiative for Human Rights
Regional Center for Human Rights
Ukrainian Institute for Human Rights
Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union
Civic Solidarity Platform statement on the attempt on the life of prominent Azerbaijani human rights activist Ogtay Gulaliyev
The Civic Solidarity Platform condemns the attempt on the life of prominent Azerbaijani human rights activist, Ogtay Gulaliyev, and calls on the OSCE, Council of Europe, UN and their member states to conduct an international investigation and demand that the Azerbaijani authorities find and punish those responsible for this attempt on the persistent critic.
Oktay Gulaliyev was deliberately run over by a car in the capital city of Azerbaijan, Baku, during daytime on October 29, 2019, while regularly crossing a traffic light regulated crosswalk. As a result of the collision, the human rights defender received serious head injuries. Gulaliyev, who was taken to the hospital and was conscious for the first 4 hours after the accident, was held hostage by the state medical system. The human rights activist was waiting for the doctors’ help, who deliberately did nothing despite his condition worsening by the hour. Doctors, essentially, didn’t do anything following the first 4 hours either. The Azerbaijani neurosurgeon intentionally performed the necessary surgical intervention only 18 hours after the human rights activist was run over, so that irreversible processes occur in the injured brain that, if Gulaliyev, who is still in a coma, survives, will cause full or partial physical disability.
Following the public outcry, at home and abroad, caused by the attempt on the life of the human rights activist, the Azerbaijani authorities allocated a special plane which transported Gulaliyev to one of the best clinics in Istanbul, where highly qualified doctors operated on him again.
According to Turkish doctors, if appropriate medical care were given in the first 4 hours after the accident, the human rights activist’s life would not be in the danger it is now. A basic neurosurgical procedure would have eliminated the extensive brain hemorrhage that progressed for 18 hours and led to Gulaliyev falling into a coma.
A group of representatives of the independent civil society of Azerbaijan carried out an initial investigation during the month following the tragedy, which finally indicates that the car collision was not a tragic accident, it was staged to look like one.
Just during the year of 2019, Gulaliyev was summoned 8 times by various law enforcement agencies, he was then illegally interrogated, subjected to psychological pressure and demanded to stop his human rights activities exposing torture and protecting political prisoners. For his human rights activities, Gulaliyev was arrested in 2012 and he spent several months in prison. After a local and international campaign in his defense, he was released, however, the authorities put him under a travel ban that had been in effect until 2018.
A month before the assassination attempt, senior law enforcement officials called Gulaliyev for another preventive and intimidating conversations where the authorities openly told him that they would not put him in jail again, but that he could become the victim of an accident with a possible fatal outcome or one resulting in complete loss of mental and/or physical capacity.
Gulaliyev himself has repeatedly spoken about these threats to his colleagues, human rights activists and journalists.
The Civic Solidarity Platform believes that the human rights activist became a victim because of his principled position on documenting the torture of dozens of detainees arrested during mass protests in the Ganja city, in July 2018.
A month after the murder attempt of Ogtay Gulaliyev, the Azerbaijani authorities, in their usual manner, disbarred the prominent lawyer, Shahla Humbatova, specializing in the protection of victims of torture, political prisoners and prisoners of conscience. The authorities’ goal was to prevent her from protecting the victims of the political repression in Azerbaijan.
Civic Solidarity Platform urges the Azerbaijani authorities to immediately put an end to the attacks on human rights defenders and lawyers, also guarantee the freedom and safety of human rights defenders, journalists and lawyers focusing on protecting fundamental human rights.
The Civic Solidarity Platform calls on the authorities of Azerbaijan and the OSCE member states to make every possible effort in order to provide the necessary medical care, necessary to save the life of human rights activist, Ogtay Gulaliyev.
The Civic Solidarity Platform, in anticipation of the 26th OSCE Ministerial Council, urges the member states to give a principled assessment of the latest attacks on the critics of Azerbaijan, which will undoubtedly aggravate against the backdrop of impending municipal and parliamentary elections that will be held in the next 3 months.
December 4, 2019
The Civic Solidarity Platform condemns the attempt on the life of prominent Azerbaijani human rights activist, Ogtay Gulaliyev, and calls on the OSCE, Council of Europe, UN and their member states to conduct an international investigation and demand that the Azerbaijani authorities find and punish those responsible for this attempt on the persistent critic.
Oktay Gulaliyev was deliberately run over by a car in the capital city of Azerbaijan, Baku, during daytime on October 29, 2019, while regularly crossing a traffic light regulated crosswalk. As a result of the collision, the human rights defender received serious head injuries. Gulaliyev, who was taken to the hospital and was conscious for the first 4 hours after the accident, was held hostage by the state medical system. The human rights activist was waiting for the doctors’ help, who deliberately did nothing despite his condition worsening by the hour. Doctors, essentially, didn’t do anything following the first 4 hours either. The Azerbaijani neurosurgeon intentionally performed the necessary surgical intervention only 18 hours after the human rights activist was run over, so that irreversible processes occur in the injured brain that, if Gulaliyev, who is still in a coma, survives, will cause full or partial physical disability.
Following the public outcry, at home and abroad, caused by the attempt on the life of the human rights activist, the Azerbaijani authorities allocated a special plane which transported Gulaliyev to one of the best clinics in Istanbul, where highly qualified doctors operated on him again.
According to Turkish doctors, if appropriate medical care were given in the first 4 hours after the accident, the human rights activist’s life would not be in the danger it is now. A basic neurosurgical procedure would have eliminated the extensive brain hemorrhage that progressed for 18 hours and led to Gulaliyev falling into a coma.
A group of representatives of the independent civil society of Azerbaijan carried out an initial investigation during the month following the tragedy, which finally indicates that the car collision was not a tragic accident, it was staged to look like one.
Just during the year of 2019, Gulaliyev was summoned 8 times by various law enforcement agencies, he was then illegally interrogated, subjected to psychological pressure and demanded to stop his human rights activities exposing torture and protecting political prisoners. For his human rights activities, Gulaliyev was arrested in 2012 and he spent several months in prison. After a local and international campaign in his defense, he was released, however, the authorities put him under a travel ban that had been in effect until 2018.
A month before the assassination attempt, senior law enforcement officials called Gulaliyev for another preventive and intimidating conversations where the authorities openly told him that they would not put him in jail again, but that he could become the victim of an accident with a possible fatal outcome or one resulting in complete loss of mental and/or physical capacity.
Gulaliyev himself has repeatedly spoken about these threats to his colleagues, human rights activists and journalists.
The Civic Solidarity Platform believes that the human rights activist became a victim because of his principled position on documenting the torture of dozens of detainees arrested during mass protests in the Ganja city, in July 2018.
A month after the murder attempt of Ogtay Gulaliyev, the Azerbaijani authorities, in their usual manner, disbarred the prominent lawyer, Shahla Humbatova, specializing in the protection of victims of torture, political prisoners and prisoners of conscience. The authorities’ goal was to prevent her from protecting the victims of the political repression in Azerbaijan.
Civic Solidarity Platform urges the Azerbaijani authorities to immediately put an end to the attacks on human rights defenders and lawyers, also guarantee the freedom and safety of human rights defenders, journalists and lawyers focusing on protecting fundamental human rights.
The Civic Solidarity Platform calls on the authorities of Azerbaijan and the OSCE member states to make every possible effort in order to provide the necessary medical care, necessary to save the life of human rights activist, Ogtay Gulaliyev.
The Civic Solidarity Platform, in anticipation of the 26th OSCE Ministerial Council, urges the member states to give a principled assessment of the latest attacks on the critics of Azerbaijan, which will undoubtedly aggravate against the backdrop of impending municipal and parliamentary elections that will be held in the next 3 months.
December 4, 2019
Respect and recognition for the Macedonian minority in Bulgaria: strong condemnation of the announcements for a possible deregistration of a human rights organization
The Solidarity Platform calls on the Bulgarian government as well as on local and regional authorities to ensure respect and recognition for the Macedonian minority in the country and to prevent any attempt of violation or unduly restriction of the freedom of assembly, such as the announced deregistration of a minority human rights organization.
Several days ago, the Bulgarian prosecution requested the competent Court to suspend the registration of an organisation formed by ethnic Macedonians for the purposes of protecting the minority’s basic rights and freedoms. The organisation was registered by the Registration Agency, under the Ministry of Justice, earlier this year under the name ‘Civic association for protection of fundamental individual human rights’. However, one week ago, the Deputy Prime Minister Karakachanov, from the IMRO political party - which also sought the prohibition of several other organisations including the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee, wrote to the Prosecutor General and requested deregistration of the organisation as a threat to national security and the ‘unity of the nation’. The request to the Balgoevgrad Regional Court was made by the Regional Prosecutor of Blagoevgrad after he received instructions from the Prosecutor General. The Bulgarian government does not recognize Macedonians as a separate ethnic group and considers any expression of a Macedonain identity as a threat.
The Deputy Prime Minister explicitly referred to the organisation's goals - to protect the rights of the Macedonian minority. Consequently, the case was referred to the Blagoevgrad Regional Prosecution, which ordered a ‘check’, including questioning of the members about their ethnic background and activities. As a result, a few days ago it brought a request in the Blagoevgrad Regional Court requesting the suspension of the juridical person status of the association. The prosecutor argues that the association is a threat to the ‘unity of the nation’ because it declares the existence of Macedonians in Bulgaria, which is ‘anti-Bulgarian’, and because it pursues political objectives.
Alleged violations of fundamental rights and cases of hate speech and intimidations against the Macedonian community in Bulgaria are continuously rising and must be tackled. The Solidarity Platform reminds the European Commission of its duty to ensure the respect for minority rights in Bulgaria and elsewhere in the EU as it is the guarantor of the European Charter of Fundamental Rights. The EU institutions must undertake institutional and political action to stop these fundamental rights violations against the Macedonian minority in Bulgaria, and to guarantee the restoration of rights to European citizens belonging to minorities. Action is urgently needed also because of the developments at the Committee of Ministers on the execution of several judgments of the ECtHR related to the refusal to register Macedonian organisations. The last review of this group of cases, which is under the enhanced procedure for many years, was in September. The Committee of Ministers sought the preparation of an interim resolution for non-compliance to be adopted next year. This is a case of a harassment of human rights defenders and it is deeply worrying that the Bulgarian government is failing to act to put a stop to these violations. We demand respect and recognition for the Macedonian minority in Bulgaria and we strongly condemn the announcements for a possible deregistration of a human rights organization.
The Solidarity Platform calls on the Bulgarian government as well as on local and regional authorities to ensure respect and recognition for the Macedonian minority in the country and to prevent any attempt of violation or unduly restriction of the freedom of assembly, such as the announced deregistration of a minority human rights organization.
Several days ago, the Bulgarian prosecution requested the competent Court to suspend the registration of an organisation formed by ethnic Macedonians for the purposes of protecting the minority’s basic rights and freedoms. The organisation was registered by the Registration Agency, under the Ministry of Justice, earlier this year under the name ‘Civic association for protection of fundamental individual human rights’. However, one week ago, the Deputy Prime Minister Karakachanov, from the IMRO political party - which also sought the prohibition of several other organisations including the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee, wrote to the Prosecutor General and requested deregistration of the organisation as a threat to national security and the ‘unity of the nation’. The request to the Balgoevgrad Regional Court was made by the Regional Prosecutor of Blagoevgrad after he received instructions from the Prosecutor General. The Bulgarian government does not recognize Macedonians as a separate ethnic group and considers any expression of a Macedonain identity as a threat.
The Deputy Prime Minister explicitly referred to the organisation's goals - to protect the rights of the Macedonian minority. Consequently, the case was referred to the Blagoevgrad Regional Prosecution, which ordered a ‘check’, including questioning of the members about their ethnic background and activities. As a result, a few days ago it brought a request in the Blagoevgrad Regional Court requesting the suspension of the juridical person status of the association. The prosecutor argues that the association is a threat to the ‘unity of the nation’ because it declares the existence of Macedonians in Bulgaria, which is ‘anti-Bulgarian’, and because it pursues political objectives.
Alleged violations of fundamental rights and cases of hate speech and intimidations against the Macedonian community in Bulgaria are continuously rising and must be tackled. The Solidarity Platform reminds the European Commission of its duty to ensure the respect for minority rights in Bulgaria and elsewhere in the EU as it is the guarantor of the European Charter of Fundamental Rights. The EU institutions must undertake institutional and political action to stop these fundamental rights violations against the Macedonian minority in Bulgaria, and to guarantee the restoration of rights to European citizens belonging to minorities. Action is urgently needed also because of the developments at the Committee of Ministers on the execution of several judgments of the ECtHR related to the refusal to register Macedonian organisations. The last review of this group of cases, which is under the enhanced procedure for many years, was in September. The Committee of Ministers sought the preparation of an interim resolution for non-compliance to be adopted next year. This is a case of a harassment of human rights defenders and it is deeply worrying that the Bulgarian government is failing to act to put a stop to these violations. We demand respect and recognition for the Macedonian minority in Bulgaria and we strongly condemn the announcements for a possible deregistration of a human rights organization.
Call to investigate the use of police force during protests in Tbilisi
On 20 June 2019 Russian parliamentary deputy Sergey Gavrilov was visiting Georgia to take part in the Inter-Parliamentary assembly on Orthodoxy. The assembly session was held in the Georgian parliament where Gavrilov made a speech in Russian from the seat of head of parliament. This fact caused a big wave of protest amongst opposition parties and the Georgian public. The assembly session was cancelled and Gavrilov was escorted to Tbilisi airport, after protesters began protesting in front of his hotel.
Later in the evening over 30 000 people gathered on Rustaveli avenue, in Tbilisi, to protest against a Russian politician speaking in Georgian parliament. Protesters demanded the resignation of the parliamentary chairman Irakli Kobakhidze. Later that night, the protest tribune was overtaken by the activists of former ruling party- United National Movement. UNM member Nika Melia called on protesters to march into parliament, and for a few hours protestors used stones and other metal objects to attempt to force their way into the building. Police tried to protect the building from the inside, and thousands more were involved in maintaining the peace during the protest. Mamuka Bakhtadze, Prime Minister of Georgia, later called on protesters to cease attempts to break into parliament, adding that tear gas and rubber bullets were a signature of the previous violent UNM regime and would not be used by the government in power.
However, despite Bakhtadze’s promises, at 01:00 a.m special forces started to attack protesters, shooting teargas and rubber bullets into the crowd. All of the opposition leaders have left the venue after the events got violent. At around 01:45 a.m, additional riot police were deployed including a water cannon, driving the remaining protesters down Rustaveli Avenue. Small groups of protesters continued to clash with police until around 05:00 a.m on 21 June.
Over 300 people were arrested and more than 240 hospitalized, including civilians, journalists, police and special forces. The firing at short range of rubber bullets caused serious injuries and resulted in several people losing eyes. Media footage shows how officers chased unarmed civilians down the streets, across parks and into apartment entrances.
On Friday, 21 June Irakli Kobakhidze, head of Georgian parliament resigned from his post. The official governmental position is that force constituted a proportional response to provocation by UNM activists.
Civil society activists have announced another peaceful protest on 21 June 2019 demanding the change of country’s electoral system to proportional representation and calling for the resignation of of the Minister of internal affairs Giorgi Gakharia.
We, the undersigned NGOs, are extremely concerned at the current situation and strongly urge the Georgian authorities to
conduct a prompt and independent investigation into reports of the excessive use of force by police and special forces during the protests and ensure the respect of the exercise of rights to freedom of assembly and expression as guaranteed by the constitution.
Statement
Civil society organizations from Albania and other countries call upon the government of Albania to withdraw the two draft laws proposed to Parliament and showcased in public as the "Anti-Defamation Package". We also call upon the Parliament of Albania to, in case the government does not withdraw the bills, dismiss them without delay.
Earlier this month, at the 26th Ministerial Council of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Albania assumed the 2020 Chairmanship of the OSCE. Albania, inspired by a sense of responsibility and driven by the determination to contribute to the security and stability of our continent and to the prosperity of our people, will be looked at to lead other participating states in implementing OSCE commitments, including on freedom of the media. Adopting the newly proposed legislation would go contrary to the role of Albania as a Chairing state.
The importance of freedom of expression in a democratic society is reflected by the ample protection given to it in international law, both at global and in regional level, including in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
The signatory organizations note that the two draft laws of the anti-defamation package provide the Albanian Media Authority and Albanian Communication and Postal Authority with quasi-judicial competences to sanction media outlets, while these bodies, although independent by definition in the law, provide no functional guarantees to operate independently in practice, as should the courts.
Albania has sufficiently laws already to regulate cases in which media violate the rights of others and in this context there are precedents decided on in Albanian courts.
We underline that self-regulation rather than legal regulation of the media is important, in particular in countries in transition to democracy, as is Albania, where often media is connected with known interests of the businesses or political parties. Self-regulation entails a combination of standards laid down in ethical codes of conduct for the media, which are necessary to support freedom of expression, and of procedures to allow this conduct to be monitored and to hold media accountable. Self-regulation preserves the independence of the media and protects it from the partisan interventions of the government.
The signatories call upon international bodies, including the OSCE, the EU and the Council of Europe, whose presence in Albania contributes to the rule of law and human rights, to take a clear and public stance on these two draft laws, disapproving them as initiatives that violate freedom of expression.
Civil society organizations from Albania and other countries call upon the government of Albania to withdraw the two draft laws proposed to Parliament and showcased in public as the "Anti-Defamation Package". We also call upon the Parliament of Albania to, in case the government does not withdraw the bills, dismiss them without delay.
Earlier this month, at the 26th Ministerial Council of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Albania assumed the 2020 Chairmanship of the OSCE. Albania, inspired by a sense of responsibility and driven by the determination to contribute to the security and stability of our continent and to the prosperity of our people, will be looked at to lead other participating states in implementing OSCE commitments, including on freedom of the media. Adopting the newly proposed legislation would go contrary to the role of Albania as a Chairing state.
The importance of freedom of expression in a democratic society is reflected by the ample protection given to it in international law, both at global and in regional level, including in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
The signatory organizations note that the two draft laws of the anti-defamation package provide the Albanian Media Authority and Albanian Communication and Postal Authority with quasi-judicial competences to sanction media outlets, while these bodies, although independent by definition in the law, provide no functional guarantees to operate independently in practice, as should the courts.
Albania has sufficiently laws already to regulate cases in which media violate the rights of others and in this context there are precedents decided on in Albanian courts.
We underline that self-regulation rather than legal regulation of the media is important, in particular in countries in transition to democracy, as is Albania, where often media is connected with known interests of the businesses or political parties. Self-regulation entails a combination of standards laid down in ethical codes of conduct for the media, which are necessary to support freedom of expression, and of procedures to allow this conduct to be monitored and to hold media accountable. Self-regulation preserves the independence of the media and protects it from the partisan interventions of the government.
The signatories call upon international bodies, including the OSCE, the EU and the Council of Europe, whose presence in Albania contributes to the rule of law and human rights, to take a clear and public stance on these two draft laws, disapproving them as initiatives that violate freedom of expression.
Albania
To the President of the Kyrgyz Republic
Mr. S. Jeenbekov
To the Prosecutor General of the Kyrgyz Republic
Mr. O. Dzhamshitov
Open appeal
Lawyers S. Slesarev, N.Toktakunov and Z. Zhooshev defend the rights of former President of Kyrgyzstan A. Atambayev.
In connection with the provision of legal aid, lawyers are threatened by:
● investigating authorities call them for interrogation in violation of subparagraphs 3 and 4 of p. 4 of Article 58 of the Criminal Procedure Code of the Kyrgyz Republic (the lawyer is not subject to interrogation as a witness about the circumstances that became known to him in connection with the application for legal assistance or its provision);
The above violates the guarantees of the independence of the professional activity of lawyers and coercion to violate the lawyer-client privilege that is under protection of international law. According to an article 16 of the United Nations Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers, Governments shall ensure that lawyers are able to perform all of their professional functions without intimidation, hindrance, harassment or improper interference; and they shall not suffer, or be threatened with, prosecution or administrative, economic or other sanctions for any action taken in accordance with recognized professional duties, standards and ethics[1].
In accordance with an article 21 of the Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power, States should periodically review existing legislation and practices in preventing serious abuses of power, and ensuring appropriate rights and remedies for victims of such acts[2].
Pursuant to paragraph 30 of Guidelines on the Protection of Human Rights Defenders of the ODIHR OSCE, lawyers engaged in human rights work should not face intimidation or reprisals (such as the threat of disbarment) for their defense of human rights or of other human rights defenders[3].
As a result, serious unreasonable restrictions on clients' rights to: their defense[4], presumption of innocence, fair trial, equality and adversarial process of the parties.
REQUIRING:
● Guarantee and ensure non-interference in the advocacy activities of lawyers in the Kyrgyz Republic.
All other signatures not specified in this appeal can be found on the page of the social network "Facebook" - "Anara XLM".
We expect a response within the period established by the legislation of the Kyrgyz Republic at the address: Republic of Kazahstan, 010010, Nur-Sultan city, Mailina str. 10, Office 10, PO “Kadir-kasiet”, e-mail: dignityast@gmail.com.
January 15, 2020
Signatures:
LAWYERS -
[1] The United Nations Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers adopted by the Eighth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders, Havana, Cuba, 27 August to 7 September 1990.
[2] Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power adopted by the General Assembly resolution 40/34 of 29 November 1985.
[3] The Guidelines on the Protection of Human Rights Defenders of the ODIHR OSCE. https://www.osce.org/odihr/guidelines-on-the-protection-of-human-rights-defenders?download=true
[4] There is growing negative trend when investigators intimidate suspects and accused with arrest or other harsh actions and force them to waive lawyers that actively protect their clients, coerced them to give such statements that needed to the investigation, require them not to write complaints or contact the mass media.
Mr. S. Jeenbekov
To the Prosecutor General of the Kyrgyz Republic
Mr. O. Dzhamshitov
Open appeal
Lawyers S. Slesarev, N.Toktakunov and Z. Zhooshev defend the rights of former President of Kyrgyzstan A. Atambayev.
In connection with the provision of legal aid, lawyers are threatened by:
● investigating authorities call them for interrogation in violation of subparagraphs 3 and 4 of p. 4 of Article 58 of the Criminal Procedure Code of the Kyrgyz Republic (the lawyer is not subject to interrogation as a witness about the circumstances that became known to him in connection with the application for legal assistance or its provision);
- seizing documents in cases within which clients are protected, in violation of p. 5 of Article 29 of the Law «On the Advocacy of the Kyrgyz Republic and advocacy itself» (demanding, seizing documents, collecting and using information related to legal assistance in a particular criminal case is allowed only if an lawyer is involved as an accused);
The above violates the guarantees of the independence of the professional activity of lawyers and coercion to violate the lawyer-client privilege that is under protection of international law. According to an article 16 of the United Nations Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers, Governments shall ensure that lawyers are able to perform all of their professional functions without intimidation, hindrance, harassment or improper interference; and they shall not suffer, or be threatened with, prosecution or administrative, economic or other sanctions for any action taken in accordance with recognized professional duties, standards and ethics[1].
In accordance with an article 21 of the Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power, States should periodically review existing legislation and practices in preventing serious abuses of power, and ensuring appropriate rights and remedies for victims of such acts[2].
Pursuant to paragraph 30 of Guidelines on the Protection of Human Rights Defenders of the ODIHR OSCE, lawyers engaged in human rights work should not face intimidation or reprisals (such as the threat of disbarment) for their defense of human rights or of other human rights defenders[3].
As a result, serious unreasonable restrictions on clients' rights to: their defense[4], presumption of innocence, fair trial, equality and adversarial process of the parties.
REQUIRING:
● Guarantee and ensure non-interference in the advocacy activities of lawyers in the Kyrgyz Republic.
- To exclude any political engagement of investigative authorities, prosecutors and courts.
All other signatures not specified in this appeal can be found on the page of the social network "Facebook" - "Anara XLM".
We expect a response within the period established by the legislation of the Kyrgyz Republic at the address: Republic of Kazahstan, 010010, Nur-Sultan city, Mailina str. 10, Office 10, PO “Kadir-kasiet”, e-mail: dignityast@gmail.com.
January 15, 2020
Signatures:
LAWYERS -
- Raziya Nurmasheva, Almaty
- Zhanara Balgabayeva, Almaty
- Leyla Ramazanova, Almaty
- Amanzhol Mukhamedyarov, capital of Kazakhstan
- Snezhanna Kim, Kostanay
- Juliya Malukova, Taldykorgan
- Aizhan Daribayeva, Semey
- Anzhelika Rakhimberdina, Almaty
- Gulyayim Sydykova, Ayagoz
- Amangeldy Krykbayev, capital of Kazakhstan
- Inara Massanova, Almaty
- Yerlan Yerbolatuly, Almaty
- Gulkhan Okapova, Almaty
- Assel Tokayeva, capital of Kazakhstan
- Ayman Umarova, Almaty
- Gaukhar Salimbayeva, Almaty
- Igor Vranchev, Atyrau
- Gulnar Baygazina, Almaty
- Elvira Bokhanova, Almaty
- Nazar Abinov, capital of Kazakhstan
- Svetlana Vitkovskaya, Almaty
- Zhanargul Sundetkaliyeva, Atyrau
- Aygul Taygozhina, Karaganda
- Askardjon Tursunov, Khudjand, Tadjikistan
- Tamila Rakhmatullayeva, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
- Sergey Romanov, Krasnodar, Russian Federation
- Svetlana Sidorkina, Moscow, Russian Federation
- Anara Ibrayeva, expert of Public Association “Dignity”, capital of Kazakhstan
- Ivan Sinenko, director of Public Association “True equality”, Uralsk
- Marianna Gurina, president of Public Association “Ulagatty zhanuya”, Almaty
- Anna Smirnova, lawyer of Public Association “Kazakhstan International Bureau for Human Rights and Rule of Law”, Almaty
- Alexey Zhanseitov, Union of children’s communities foster-child, Uralsk
- Talgat Ayan, civil activist, Atyrau
- Zhemis Turmagambetova, director of Public Foundation “Human Rights Chapter”, Almaty
- Togzhan Kizatova, Public Association “Demos”, Atyrau
- Zauresh Battalova, president of Public Foundation “Parliamentarism development foundation in Kazakhstan”, capital of Kazakhstan
- Bakhitzhan Toregozhina, director of Public Foundation “Ar.Rukh.Khak”, Almaty
- Adil Tolepbergenov, director of “Akmola akparat” (newspaper “Kokshetau-Asia”), Kokshetau
- Aliya Izbassarova, civil activist, capital of Kazakhstan
- Eugene Zhovtis, director of Public Association “Kazakhstan International Bureau for Human Rights and Rule of Law”, Almaty
- Irina Mednikova, the head of board of Youth information service in Kazakhstan, Almaty
- Nina Yerkayeva, the head of Public Association “Education and development”, Karaganda
- Svetlana Khozhnichenko, lawyer of Public Association “Kazakhstan International Bureau for Human Rights and Rule of Law”, Almaty
- Alexandr Danchev, director of Public Association “Equal rights”, Petropavlovsk
- Galym Ageleuov, president of Public Foundation “Liberty”, Almaty
- Rustam Zhantassov, director of the branch of Youth information service in Kazakhstan, Petropavlovsk
- Sergey Izmaylov, the head of Public Association “Public Committee on Human Rights of North-Kazakhstan oblast”, Petropavlovsk
- Roza Akylbekova, deputy director of Public Association “Kazakhstan International Bureau for Human Rights and Rule of Law”, Almaty
- Valentina Gritsenko, director of Public Association “Justice”, Djalalabad, Kyrgyzstan
- Dilrabo Samadova, executive director of Public Association “Office of civil freedoms”, Dushanbe, Tadjikistan
- Gulchekhra Rakhmanova, director of Public Foundation “Legal initiative”, Dushanbe, Tadjikistan
- Pepijn Gerrits, Executive Director, Netherlands Helsinki Committee
- Oleg Ageyev, lawyer, deputy of head “Belarus Association of Journalists”, Minsk, Belarus
[1] The United Nations Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers adopted by the Eighth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders, Havana, Cuba, 27 August to 7 September 1990.
[2] Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power adopted by the General Assembly resolution 40/34 of 29 November 1985.
[3] The Guidelines on the Protection of Human Rights Defenders of the ODIHR OSCE. https://www.osce.org/odihr/guidelines-on-the-protection-of-human-rights-defenders?download=true
[4] There is growing negative trend when investigators intimidate suspects and accused with arrest or other harsh actions and force them to waive lawyers that actively protect their clients, coerced them to give such statements that needed to the investigation, require them not to write complaints or contact the mass media.
Civic Solidarity Platform condemns violations of freedom of assembly and the right not to be subjected to torture and ill treatment in rallies held in Baku, Azerbaijan on 19th and 20th October 2019
Statement
On October 19, the National Council of Opposition Democratic Forces held a protest in the center of Baku referring various political and social demands, and on October 20, women's rights activists marched to protest the killing of women on the ground of domestic violence.
Monitoring and media reports of the rallies show that the police use excessive and disproportionate force against the protesters, operated violently ill-treated organizers and participants. As a result, the participants of the assemblies, that nobody doubted that it would be completely peaceful, could not exercise their freedom of assembly.
Before and during the rally on October 19, dozens of organizers and participants were sentenced for 5 to 60 days of administrative detention on misdemeanor charges of resisting police orders. Subway stations were suspended to operate for hours, and internet connection has been completely disrupted or weakened in some places. These measure create serious concerns about the protection of freedom of assembly and citizens' right to access information.
The Civic Solidarity Platform concludes that the incidents and the government's cruel treatment of peaceful protests imply an unacceptable restriction on freedom of assembly. The use of excessive and disproportionate force and violence by police against detainees and protesters is a violation of the right not to be subjected to torture and cruel, inhumane treatment. All of this is a gross violation of Azerbaijan's obligations before the Council of Europe, the UN, the OSCE, as well as of conventions ratified by the country, including the European Convention on Human Rights.
The Civic Solidarity Platform calls for the release of all persons sentenced in for engaging in peaceful protest, for an objective and comprehensive investigation into cases of torture and ill-treatment, and for legal action against the perpetrators of torture and ill-treatment and those who order it. We call for an end to interference with the exercise of the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and for fundamental reforms in these areas in order to guarantee adherence to international human rights obligations that Azerbaijan has agreed to comply with.
Statement
On October 19, the National Council of Opposition Democratic Forces held a protest in the center of Baku referring various political and social demands, and on October 20, women's rights activists marched to protest the killing of women on the ground of domestic violence.
Monitoring and media reports of the rallies show that the police use excessive and disproportionate force against the protesters, operated violently ill-treated organizers and participants. As a result, the participants of the assemblies, that nobody doubted that it would be completely peaceful, could not exercise their freedom of assembly.
Before and during the rally on October 19, dozens of organizers and participants were sentenced for 5 to 60 days of administrative detention on misdemeanor charges of resisting police orders. Subway stations were suspended to operate for hours, and internet connection has been completely disrupted or weakened in some places. These measure create serious concerns about the protection of freedom of assembly and citizens' right to access information.
The Civic Solidarity Platform concludes that the incidents and the government's cruel treatment of peaceful protests imply an unacceptable restriction on freedom of assembly. The use of excessive and disproportionate force and violence by police against detainees and protesters is a violation of the right not to be subjected to torture and cruel, inhumane treatment. All of this is a gross violation of Azerbaijan's obligations before the Council of Europe, the UN, the OSCE, as well as of conventions ratified by the country, including the European Convention on Human Rights.
The Civic Solidarity Platform calls for the release of all persons sentenced in for engaging in peaceful protest, for an objective and comprehensive investigation into cases of torture and ill-treatment, and for legal action against the perpetrators of torture and ill-treatment and those who order it. We call for an end to interference with the exercise of the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and for fundamental reforms in these areas in order to guarantee adherence to international human rights obligations that Azerbaijan has agreed to comply with.
Statement of the Civic Solidarity Platform
Civic Solidarity Platform Condemns the Recent Defamation of Andrey Rudomakha, Russian Environmentalist
We, members of the Civic Solidarity Platform, condemn the recent efforts to defame the character of Andrey Rudomakha, coordinator of Environmental Watch on the North Caucasus.
On September 19, 2019, anonymous posters claiming that Andrey Rudomakha is a pedophile were plastered around the city of Krasnodar, Russia. These posters also included libelous information about Environmental Watch. The posters contained photographs of Rudomakha, and included his home address. We are concerned that this information will result in additional threats to Rudomakha and other members of Environmental Watch, including physical violence.
This is an obvious and disgusting attempt to assassinate Rudomakha’s character and is extremely troubling, particularly following the early morning raids of Environmental Watch’s office early in the morning on September 12, July 30, and April 9, 2019 by the authorities, carrying automatic weapons and wearing balaclavas. In both the July and April raids, equipment, including computers, flash drives, and mobile phones were confiscated, as well as the organization’s files. Members of EWNC, including Rudomakha, were brutally treated by those who raided the office, and damage was done to the door and furniture. These are only the raids that happened this year; serious harassment of the organization has been ongoing for at least the past ten years.
On December 28, 2017, Andrey Rudomakha was brutally beaten by masked attackers as he returned from an environmental inspection. Rudomakha spent over two weeks in the hospital recovering from his injuries, which included a fractured skull, concussion, a broken nose, and severe dental damage. His attackers remain at large even though the incident was recorded on EWNC’s security camera and provided to the police.
On January 9, 2018, less than two weeks following the attack, Rudomakha and Environmental Watch’s deputy director, Dmitry Shevchenko, received death threats sent by email from the address, smertrudomakhe@gmail.com.
At the same time that these posters were placed around Krasnodar, an anonymous petition was circulated on Change.org, requesting signatures to remove Rudomakha from the environmental council of the Governor of Krasnodar Krai.
The most recent libelous statements about Andrey are a violation of his rights, including his right to privacy, life, and right to freedom of association. This latest effort at character assassination places Rudomakha once again at great risk of personal violence and must be stopped.
We demand that the Russian authorities provide protection to Rudomakha, go after those who are harassing him, and stop the repression of Rudomakha and other members of Environmental Watch on the North Caucasus.
We call on the international community to demand respect for human rights among environmental and human rights defenders by the authorities in the Russian Federation and throughout the OSCE region.
We as members of the Civic Solidarity Platform state our solidarity with and support for Andrey Rudomakha and all members of Environmental Watch on the North Caucasus.
Civic Solidarity Platform Condemns the Recent Defamation of Andrey Rudomakha, Russian Environmentalist
We, members of the Civic Solidarity Platform, condemn the recent efforts to defame the character of Andrey Rudomakha, coordinator of Environmental Watch on the North Caucasus.
On September 19, 2019, anonymous posters claiming that Andrey Rudomakha is a pedophile were plastered around the city of Krasnodar, Russia. These posters also included libelous information about Environmental Watch. The posters contained photographs of Rudomakha, and included his home address. We are concerned that this information will result in additional threats to Rudomakha and other members of Environmental Watch, including physical violence.
This is an obvious and disgusting attempt to assassinate Rudomakha’s character and is extremely troubling, particularly following the early morning raids of Environmental Watch’s office early in the morning on September 12, July 30, and April 9, 2019 by the authorities, carrying automatic weapons and wearing balaclavas. In both the July and April raids, equipment, including computers, flash drives, and mobile phones were confiscated, as well as the organization’s files. Members of EWNC, including Rudomakha, were brutally treated by those who raided the office, and damage was done to the door and furniture. These are only the raids that happened this year; serious harassment of the organization has been ongoing for at least the past ten years.
On December 28, 2017, Andrey Rudomakha was brutally beaten by masked attackers as he returned from an environmental inspection. Rudomakha spent over two weeks in the hospital recovering from his injuries, which included a fractured skull, concussion, a broken nose, and severe dental damage. His attackers remain at large even though the incident was recorded on EWNC’s security camera and provided to the police.
On January 9, 2018, less than two weeks following the attack, Rudomakha and Environmental Watch’s deputy director, Dmitry Shevchenko, received death threats sent by email from the address, smertrudomakhe@gmail.com.
At the same time that these posters were placed around Krasnodar, an anonymous petition was circulated on Change.org, requesting signatures to remove Rudomakha from the environmental council of the Governor of Krasnodar Krai.
The most recent libelous statements about Andrey are a violation of his rights, including his right to privacy, life, and right to freedom of association. This latest effort at character assassination places Rudomakha once again at great risk of personal violence and must be stopped.
We demand that the Russian authorities provide protection to Rudomakha, go after those who are harassing him, and stop the repression of Rudomakha and other members of Environmental Watch on the North Caucasus.
We call on the international community to demand respect for human rights among environmental and human rights defenders by the authorities in the Russian Federation and throughout the OSCE region.
We as members of the Civic Solidarity Platform state our solidarity with and support for Andrey Rudomakha and all members of Environmental Watch on the North Caucasus.