Azerbaijan: Treatment of people affiliated with the People's Front of Azerbaijan Party (PFAP) (2004-2005)

Information on the treatment of people affiliated with the People's Front of Azerbaijan Party (PFAP), also referred to as the Azerbaijan Popular Front Party (APFP) (CFR 2 Nov. 2005; Political Handbook of the World 2005; Political Parties of the World 2005; Eurasianet n.d.), was scarce among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. The PFAP joined the Musavat Party and the Democratic Party of Azerbaijan in the summer of 2005 (Eurasianet 2005) to form an opposition alliance called "Azadlig (Freedom)" (ibid.; ibid. 30 Sept. 2005), also referred to as Azadliq (CFR 2 Nov. 2005; RFE/RL 2 Nov. 2005) or Azadlyg (ibid. 12 Sept. 2005).

Various sources reported arrests of people affiliated with the PFAP (The Times 5 Nov. 2005) for specified infractions, such as the planning of an unauthorized protest (COE 31 May 2005; Turan 1 Oct. 2005; FIDH 7 June 2005), or without any grounds (Caucasian Knot 9 Nov. 2005; HRW 23 Jan. 2004a, 39). Seven opposition leaders were arrested following the 2003 elections (HRH 22 Feb. 2005; Europa 2005, 663), including one member of the PFAP (ibid.; AI 4 May 2004; ICG 21 Nov. 2005, 4). They received prison sentences ranging from two and half years to five years (ibid.; HRH 22 Feb. 2005; Europa 2005; HRW 9 Feb. 2005). However, their convictions were subsequently overturned and they received pardons (ICG 21 Nov. 2005, 4; RFE/RL 7 July 2005).

In August 2005, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Office in Baku reported the occurrence of "violent attacks against members of the Popular Front Party and its offices in Baku and Nakhchivan" (9 Aug. 2005). The OSCE's account continued, "people threw rocks and other hard objects at the party's offices [...] and beat up party members. They also sprayed insulting messages all over the walls of the premises" (OSCE 9 Aug. 2005). The Council of Europe Field Office in Baku also reported the incidence of attacks on various APFP offices throughout the country (26 Sept. 2005, Para. 32). Another source indicated that a member of the APFP was abducted and beaten (RFE/RL 3 May 2004). Similarly, Human Rights Watch (HRW) stated that "pro-government demonstrators also carried out protests, and at times attacks, on offices of the Popular Front Party throughout the country" and gave several examples of such attacks (31 Oct. 2005, 20). HRW also criticized police for their failure to take action in cases of attacks on APFP members or offices (ibid.).

Following an anti-government demonstration on 26 November 2005, the APFP stated that 43 of their members were "seriously injured" when the police dispersed the rally (RFE/RL 27 Nov. 2005; Turan 28 Nov. 2005).

Many sources reported on the treatment of opposition supporters in a general manner, that is without specific reference to any particular party (HRW 9 Dec. 2005; ibid. 9 Feb. 2005; ibid. 23 Jan. 2004a; ibid. 23 Jan. 2004b; FIDH 9 Mar. 2004; RFE/RL 2 Nov. 2005; Freedom House 21 Oct. 2005; OSCE 8 – 21 Oct. 2005). For example, the International Federation for Human Rights reported "[h]arassment and repression of members of opposition political parties and opposition candidates" (9 Mar. 2004, 2), while the interim report of the OSCE Election Observation Mission mentioned "widespread police arrests and intimidation of opposition party members and supporters" (8 – 21 Oct. 2005, 1). Another source indicated that opposition activists "are regularly beaten [...] and that candidates are routinely harassed" (RFE/RL 2 Nov. 2005). Freedom House reported that opposition members and supporters were subjected to arbitrary arrests, intimidation and police brutality during the demonstrations that took place prior to the November 2005 elections (21 Oct. 2005). HRW reported that opposition supporters are harassed (9 Feb. 2005), are dismissed from their jobs (HRW 9 Feb. 2005), are subject to arbitrary arrests and police brutality (ibid. 23 Jan. 2004b) and are imprisoned for politically motivated reasons (ibid. 9 Dec. 2005). One source stated that "[a] dissident leader recently released from prison died under mysterious circumstances" during a May 2005 "crackdown" on opposition activists and that "[i]n February, a 21-year-old Musavat activist died under similar circumstances" (AFP 19 May 2005). Freedom House published a press release in which they expressed concern over these two deaths (20 May 2005).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Agence France-Presse (AFP). 19 May 2005. Simon Ostrovsky. "Opposition Leader Dies Mysteriously Amid Government Crackdown in Azerbaijan." (Dialog)

Amnesty International (AI). 4 May 2004. "Azerbaijan: Political Opposition Leaders Must Receive Fair Trial." (EUR 55/001/2004) [Accessed 11 Jan. 2006]

Caucasian Knot [Moscow]. 9 November 2005. "Oppositionists Arrested in Azerbaijan's Provinces." [Accessed 10 Jan. 2006]

Council of Europe (COE). 26 September 2005. Reports From the Council of Europe Field Offices and Other Outposts. [Accessed 10 Jan. 2006]
_____. 31 May 2005. Parliamentary Assembly. "Follow-up to Resolution 1359 (2004) on Political Prisoners in Azerbaijan." [Accessed 11 Jan. 2006]

Council on Foreign Relations (CFR). 2 November 2005. Lionel Beehner. "The Importance of Azerbaijan's Parliamentary Elections." [Accessed 11 Jan. 2006]

Eurasianet. 30 September 2005. Shahin Abbasov and Khadija Ismailova. "Parties and Blocs to Dominate Azerbaijan's Parliamentary Poll." [Accessed 10 Jan. 2006]
_____. 2005. "Azerbaijan Elections 2005." [Accessed 20 Jan. 2006]
_____. N.d. "Thumbnail Sketches of Azerbaijan's Major Political Parties." [Accessed 10 Jan. 2006]

The Europa World Year Book 2005. 2005. 46th ed. Vol. 1. "Azerbaijan." London, UK: Routledge.

Freedom House. 21 October 2005. "Azerbaijan: Restricted Freedoms Cast Doubt on November Elections." [Accessed 10 Jan. 2006]
_____. 20 May 2005. "Azerbaijan: Stop Repression and Commit to Democratic Reform." [Accessed 12 Jan. 2006]

Human Rights House Network (HRH). 22 February 2005. "Azerbaijan: Prison Conditions Life Threatening." [Accessed 11 Jan. 2006]

Human Rights Watch (HRW). 9 December 2005. "EU-South Caucasus: Concrete Human Rights Benchmarks Needed." [Accessed 9 Dec. 2005]
_____. 31 October 2005. "Azerbaijan Parliamentary Elections 2005 Lessons Not Learned." [Accessed 10 Jan. 2006]
_____. 9 February 2005. "Azerbaijan: Human Rights Update." [Accessed 9 Jan. 2006]
_____. 23 January 2004a. Vol. 16, No. 1(D). Crushing Dissent: Repression, Violence and Azerbaijan's Elections. [Accessed 9 Jan. 2006]
_____. 23 January 2004b. "Azerbaijan: Government Launches Post-Election Crackdown." [Accessed 9 Jan. 2006]

International Crisis Group (ICG). 21 November 2005. "Azerbaijan's 2005 Elections: Lost Opportunity." [Accessed 10 Jan. 2006]

International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH). 7 June 2005. "Azerbaijan: Deterioration of the Situation of Human Rights on the Eve of the Forthcoming Parliamentary Elections." [Accessed 10 Jan. 2006]
_____. In United Nations. 9 March 2004. Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). Question of the Violation of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms in Any Part of the World. (E/CN.4/2004/NGO/159). [Accessed 10 Jan. 2006]

Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). 8 – 21 October 2005. Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR). Republic of Azerbaijan: Interim Report No. 3. [Accessed 10 Jan. 2006]
_____. 9 August 2005. OSCE Office in Baku. "OSCE Office Condemns Attacks Against Party Offices in Azerbaijan." [Accessed 10 Jan. 2006]

Political Handbook of the World: 2005-2006. 2005. Edited by Arthur S. Banks, Thomas C. Muller and William R. Overstreet. Washington, DC: CQ Press.

Political Parties of the World. 2005. 6th ed. Edited by Bogdan Szajowski. "Azerbaijan." London: John Harper Publishing.

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL). 27 November 2005. "Azerbaijani Opposition Says Dozens Injured at Protest." [Accessed 10 Jan. 2006]
_____. 2 November 2005. Robert Parsons. "Azerbaijan: A Challenged Opposition." [Accessed 10 Jan. 2006]
_____. 12 September 2005. "Azerbaijani Opposition Stages Demonstration in Baku." (RFE/RL Newsline)
_____. 7 July 2005. "Court Declines to Annul Charges Against Two Azerbaijani Oppositionists." (RFE/RL Newsline)
_____. 3 May 2004. "Police Target Opposition in Azerbaijani Exclave." (RFE/RL Newsline)

The Times [London]. 5 November 2005. Jeremy Page. "Campaign Managers Arrested on Eve of Poll." (Factiva)

Turan Information Agency [Baku]. 28 November 2005. "PFFA Distributed List of 43 People Seriously Injured During Authorized Opposition Demonstration." (Factiva)
_____. 1 October 2005. "Police Started Mass Arrests Before Opposition Demonstration." (Factiva)

Additional Sources Consulted

Oral sources: One oral source did not provide information within the time constraints of this response.

Internet sites, including: Amnesty International, Council of Europe, Europa World Year Book, European Country of Origin Information Network, Factiva, Human Rights Center of Azerbaijan, International Helsinki Federation, Open Society Institute, Organization of Security and Co-operation in Europe, United Nations Development Programme, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.