 Revision: 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. Tough unbearable regime in Nakhchivan, prosperity of corruption, large bribes taken from small and medium size entrepreneurs make people leave the region for other countries in order to earn for living. Some part of Nakhchivan’s population has settled in Baku. In fact, it is voluntarily deportation of the region’s people. Approximately 200,000 of Nakhchivan’s 400,000 populations have left the region.
From the geographic point of view, NAR is isolated from Azerbaijan, and lives in blockade.
The only way to Nakhchivan is by air, and people coming to Nakhchivan are subjected to serious interrogation at the airport, even the representatives of international organizations, and are kept in the region under strict control, or are deported. As a result, there is not any international organization in Nakhchivan; weak central power is under tough control of local power.
In their annual reports on Azerbaijan international organizations note worsening of situation in Nakhchivan with human rights and freedoms, but the situation does not improve, and abnormal events continue to take place in Nakhchivan.
Observations show that pressure measures taken against the population in Nakhchivan, later are applied in Azerbaijan’s other regions. Absence of principal support on the part of international organizations regarding violation of human rights aggravates the situation in Nakhchivan. It can be said that different political parties in Nakhchivan have also been paralyzed. The representatives of the parties are inactive because of the attacks by police organs and special services. During observation of elections our organization revealed that the opposition parties did not participate in significant elections held in the republic in 2009. Representatives of the ruling Yeni Azerbaijan Party voted at the polling stations on behalf of the opposition parties.
Because of paralyzed state of political parties, small number of independent media and NGO representatives has been attacked by local authorities who are concerned with the information reported from the region. Nakhchivan’s National Security Ministry and Interior Ministry make a black PR campaign against NGOs and independent media, and special role in this campaign belongs to the official organ of Nakhchivan’s Supreme Mejlis “Sharg gapisi”.
Human rights and law enforcement organs (police, prosecutor organs and courts.)
As during previous years there was not any progress in 2009 in NAR in providing human rights. Local authorities use police, prosecutor organs and courts against population as a means for punishment. Attacks by police in the region have become tougher. Even after being fine at police office people are placed by force in the hospital for schizophrenics.
On January 3, 2009 five families from Sadarak region of Nakhchivan were subjected to moral-psychological pressing on the part of police organs for complaining to the leadership of NAR and to the President Ilham Aliyev about arbitrariness of police. Four families of the detained were demanded to confirm in written from that they would never complain again and only then they were released. One family which did not agree with police was subjected to physical and moral pressing. The head of the family, 72-years old Ismail Huseynov was placed by force on January 5 to clinic for schizophrenics; his wife Khanimzar Ismailova and her son, Elvin Ismailov (first group invalid) were kept in police office for two days, and were released on January 5. Ismail Huseynov who was kept in hospital was not allowed to meet with his family members or human rights defenders. On January 20 the “Democracy and NGO Development Resource Center” published information about the event, and invited international organization to Nakhchivan. On January 27, 2009 a representative of the U.S. Embassy to Azerbaijan Joanna Ganson and representative of the CE Cler Delesard arrived in Nakhchivan and clarified the situation. On the same day I. Huseynov was released from hospital and sent alone to Baku. Some time later he died because he could not stand all events which had happened to him.
Mahammad Gurbanov, a 57-years-old second group invalid also became a victim of local authorities. He was a small entrepreneur, and brought goods and products from Turkey to Nakhchivan. On September 5, 2009 at the customs point in Sadarak on his way from Turkey to Nakhchivan he paid customs duty, but was demanded a bribe. Gurbanov refused to give a bribe: his goods amounting USD $3,500 were confiscated, and he was taken to police office. Gurbanov was subjected to psychological pressure there, and then was released. Gurbanov began to write letters to the President of the republic and other relevant organs because of such illegality; he demanded restoration of his rights. Therefore, on September 11, 2009 Gurbanov was brought to police office of Nakhchivan’s Interior Ministry, was subjected to tortures there and was demanded to take back his complains. He did not obey the police, and on the same day he was placed in the hospital for schizophrenics. In order to restore Gurbanov’s rights the Resource Center made statements and invited democratic diplomats to Nakhchivan. The Ambassador of Norwegian Kingdom to Azerbaijan John Ramberg arrived and met with Gurbanov’s family. Gurbanov was released on October 10 from the hospital where he was kept for 30 days, and was demanded not to complain any more; only after that he was paid a sum for his confiscated goods.
The other case of violation of human rights in Nakhchivan took place on December 27, 2009 in Julfa region in the village of Bananyar. On that day a group of people were marking Ashura Mourning. On the next day on December 28 the police of Julfa region arrested nine residents of the village who participated in the religious ceremony, insulted them and beat severely. A son of one of the arrested, 35-years old Yunis Aliyev as a sign of protest made an act of self-immolation in front of police office. Police did not interfere into the act. When other residents of the village wanted to help him, he was badly injured. Nakhchivan’s hospitals refused to help him, and therefore, he was placed in a hospital in Iran. On January 5, 2010 local authorities deployed troops to the village of Bananyar and started attacks against local population. Innocent women, children, old people were beaten, and 40 people were arrested. In order to stop the violence the Resource Center and otter human rights defending organizations made statements and called to stop barbarian events. On January 13 the diplomats of the U.S. and Norwegian embassies arrived in Nakhchivan. When they arrived to the village and wanted to clarify the situation, the police did not allow local residents to leave their houses and to meet with diplomats. A group of people brought by authorities attacked the foreign diplomats, insulted them, and told them to go away from the village. The diplomats had to leave the village. The attack on foreign diplomats intensified fear of local residents.
Political freedoms
Despite Nakhchivan’s local authorities paralyzed political parties, the pressure on the parties’ representatives continue. A member of Open Society Party Niyazi Gasimov on June 29 was attack by several unknown individual: in the afternoon in front of many people they put a black sack on is head, twisted his arms, put into a car and took him away. He was found in 10-15 kilometers from Nakhchivan city and was severely beaten. He had many body injures, and some unknown individual helped took him home. People who had beat Gasimov warmed him not to take part in the meetings and events organized by opposition. Gasimov decided to appeal to law enforcement bodies, but he was to stop because of anonymous calls to his mobile telephone.
The only deputy to Nakhchivan’s Supreme Mejlis from opposition PPFA party Zahid Ismailov refused from, who has always protested against social problems refused from his deputy mandate and chairmanship in municipality of the village of Cehri of Babek region of Nakhchivan. Ismailov said that after he made interview to press regarding problems he was subjected to pressure on the part of local authorities through Nakhchivan’s National Security Ministry. On August 1, 2009 after he gave interview to “Azadlig” (Liberty) Radio and Turan News Agency the Nakhchivan’s National Security Ministry increased pressing against him. Thus water supply to his sown area in the village of Cehri in Babek region was stopped, and troubles were caused for the activity in the café belonging to his wife. No reaction is given to the claims by the deputy.
The head of the branch of MUSAVAT Party in Meydan Babayev was dismissed from the school in the village of Gabullu in Kengerli region, and has not been provided with job since that time. He has written a lot of letters to the local and central authorities regarding getting a job. Despite letters sent to the head Human Rights Commission of Azerbaijan’s Milli Mejlis Rabiyat Aslanova and to the Nakhchivan’s Education Ministry the problem, has not been solved yet.
During preparation to municipal elections to be held on December 23 , 2009 local authorities interfered into the activity of opposition parties. Despite restricted opportunities for the activity of opposition parties, local authorities closed the doors to the building located in Nizami 41 in which the offices of Popular Front, Musavat, and Umid parties were located. Every member of the party was warmed on the part of local authorities and pressure was made on them. Fifty candidates from Musavat Party were not registered; the head of the Umid Party in Nakhchivan Faig Aliyev was persecuted by the employees of Nakhchivan’s National Security Ministry and pressure was made on him.
Violation of the rights on property
In 2009 private houses, and social-communal objects were demolished under the cover of improvement the territory, and new constrictions began in those places. The owners of objects were threatened and neutralized, other were given very small compensation. Those who opposed such actions were threatened that their relatives and family members would lose their job.
The rights of 50 owners of objects were violated in 2009 during the constriction of Nakhchivan-Sadarak main road. Every protesting man was neutralized by police. Resident of the village of Zeyva of Sharur region Nazim Babayev wanted to complain and demand restoration of his rights, but on August 23 , 2009 Nakhchivan’s Interior Minister Ahmadov Ahmad came to his place, threatened him, and demanded to take back his claim. Because Babayev was very persistent the Minister promised that Babayev would be given compensation. But no compensation has been paid yet, and no answer is given to Babayev’s claims.
Civil society and authorities
Civil society in Nakhchivan is very weak because of tough regime created by local authorities. Despite approximately 50 NGOs have been registered officially, they all are under the control of the authorities except “Democracy and NGO Development Resource Center.” Despite such large number of NGOs almost all of them are inactive. And according to the law, such NGOs must be annulled some time later. By violating the activity of NGOs the local authorities prevent the development of civil society. By their availability local authorities imitate the availability of democracy.
In 2009 the “Democracy and NGO Development Resource Center” conducted researches in the universities of Nakhchivan regarding corruption. On December 15, 2009 representatives of the Resource Center Ilgar Nasibov and Vafadar Eyvazov were conducting poll in the Nakhchivan State University among students and teachers. They were attacked by the teachers Mammad Rzayev and Elman Cafarli . After the representatives of the resource Center had to leave the University they were attacked and severely beaten by approximately 40 young people at the order of the teachers in front of their houses. Representatives of Resource Center called police , but policemen did not come. They had to go to police office and ask for conduction of medical expertise. Their demands were declined, and they were subjected to pressing by police. Police has to start investigation of the case at the persistence of the Resource Center, but the attitude is very biased. The police threatened eye-witnesses and got the testimonies it wanted. Not any measures were taken due to that event. On December 21, 2009 Nakhchivan’s Tax Ministry started immediately audit of financial documents of the Resource Center. The documents were audited thoroughly, home addresses and passport indices of the employees of the Resource Center were taken, and pressure was made on them.
Freedom of speech and press
There is not any opposition of independent mass media in Nakhchivan. Very small number of opposition newspapers (approximately 30 ) is brought to Nakhchivan from Baku, and is sold by certain people. If state servants read opposition press they can be punished seriously. It is dangerous to read and to follow independent or opposition press in Internet. In some internet-cafes web-sites have been blocked. Only four independent journalists work in Nakhchivan (M. Nasibova, I. Nasibov, E.Abbasov and H. Mehdiyev.) They also protect human rights. Sometimes these journalists are themselves subjected to serious pressure on the part of authorities.
On January 31, 2009 a regional correspondent of the Reporters Freedom and Safety Institute for Nakhchivan Hakimeldostu Mehdiyev was performing his duty in the office of “Umid” Party, when a provocateur Ismayil Ismayilov came into the office and injured Mehdiyev with glass bottle. The journalist was badly injured on his face, but the provocateur run away. The police invited to the office managed to detain Ismalov, but released him on the same day. H. Mehdiyev companied to police and prosecutor office, but claims still remain without answer.
On January 16, 2009 regional correspondent of Turan News Agency and “Azadlig” radio (Liberty) Malahat Nasibova, correspondents of Reporters Freedom and Safety Institute for Nakhchivan Elman Abbasov and H. Mehdiyev were subjected to physical pressure in the village of Heydarabad of Sadarak region when clarifying the situation with human rights. The correspondents were demanded to leave the village; correspondents appealed to police, but police did not take any measures. After the correspondents left the village a man called himself Malik Aliyev, called to their mobile phones, and threatened to murder them, and exploding their offices. Correspondents made official claim to all law enforcement agencies, and gave the telephone number of the man calling the. . However, there is not answer to their claim yet.
Municipal elections were held in Azerbaijan on December 23. At the order of local authorities the correspondent of Azadlig Radio Malahat Nasibova and Ilgar Nasibov were not allowed to any poling stations to make observations and to collect information. The same happened to the correspondents of Reporters Freedom and Safety Institute for Nakhchivan Elman Abbasov and Hakimeldostu Mehdiyev.
Press Service of the "Democracy and NGO's development Resource Center"
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