APFP Julfa Region Department Chairman Rza Nuriyev, who was detained illegally for 17 days, passed away on 23 February. He was 62 and was buried in his native village on 24 February. This was reported by IRFS Nakhchivan Correspondent Hekimeldostu Mehdiyev who took part in the funeral ceremony.

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The situation with human rights and freedoms in 2009 in Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic (NAR) remained tense as during previous years.  The situation in this sphere even worsened in 2009. The population of NAR has to live under tough, authoritarian regime created in the country by the head of Nakhchivan’s Supreme Mejlis Vasif Talibov. When people in Nakhchivan complain of violation of elementary   rights to the law enforcement agencies or to ombudsman they become subjected to tougher pressure. Some of complaining people are subjected to tough pressing, tortures in police offices, and then are placed in the hospitals for mentally ill people.

The South Caucasus Network of Human Rights Defenders strongly condemns the actions of law enforcement organs of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic against peaceful civilians.

The South Caucasus Network of Human Rights Defenders condemns the tax inspection conducted at the Democracy and NGO Development Resource Centre in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic that began on 5 January and assesses this as a form of pressure on the NGO.

The US and Norwegian embassies in Azerbaijan issued a statement expressing concern related to the situation in Beneniyar village of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. It is said in the statement that the diplomats of the US and Norwegian embassies went to the village on 13 January to study the situation directly.

Yesterday, 5 January, the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic Tax Ministry began inspecting the Democracy and NGO Development Resource Centre. The Institute for Reporters` Freedom and Safety was told this by the Head of the Centre Malahat Nasibova. She said that they have no information about why this examination is being conducted and when it will end.

On December 15, human rights activists Ilgar Nasibov and Vafadar Eyvazov were severely beaten by a group of students and teachers of Nakhchivan State University.