OSCE Office Head concerned over mass detentions in Azerbaijan

BAKU, 19 October 2005 - The Head of the OSCE Office in Baku, Ambassador Maurizio Pavesi, today expressed his deep concern over the deterioration of the political situation in Azerbaijan and its potential impact on the election campaign.

"The increasing number of violent incidents, the use of excessive and unjustified force against demonstrators, as well as questionable detentions and mass arrests are a major concern for us," he said.

"These developments are not in line with international election standards and are inconsistent with the spirit and letter of the Presidential decree of 11 May."

On 16 and 17 October, law-enforcement agencies reportedly detained around 200 opposition activists and arrested at least 86 in connection with the proposed return to Baku of the exiled Chairman of the Azerbaijan Democratic Party and registered candidate for the November parliamentary elections, Rasul Guliyev. There were also reports of journalists being harassed.

Several registered parliamentary candidates, some members of Mr. Guliyev's family, as well as activists of the Azerbaijan Democratic Party were also detained.

"With parliamentary elections just two weeks away, we call upon the Government to immediately justify the necessity of the operations carried out by security forces in order to avoid further aggravation of the already tense political atmosphere in Azerbaijan," Ambassador Pavesi added.

He also expressed his regret that the investigation of the incidents and of the attacks against journalists during the demonstrations on 9 October had not progressed and no one had yet been held accountable.

Ambassador Pavesi said that the OSCE Office is closely following the investigation of reported cases of violence, intimidation and detentions that took place after the recent demonstrations in Azerbaijan.