Azerbaijan’s government continues to repress civil society activists, human rights defenders and journalists. Many of them are now behind bars on trumped up charges, but in fact they were arrested for their human rights activities.

Index on Censorship and the Civic Solidarity Platform invite you to express your solidarity with our colleagues in Azerbaijan, who won’t be able to celebrate New Year’s Eve with their relatives and friends. Send them a postcard with words of support.

Here are addresses of our colleagues who are in detention:

Rasul Jafarov (Rəsul Cəfərov), Baki İstintaq Tecridxanasi, Kürdaxani qesebesi, Baku AZ1000, Azerbaijan

Intigam Aliyev (İntiqam Əliyev), Baki İstintaq Tecridxanasi, Kürdaxani qesebesi, Baku AZ1000, Azerbaijan

Leyla Yunus, Baki İstintaq Tecridxanasi, Kürdaxani qesebesi, Baku AZ1000, Azerbaijan

Anar Mammadli (Anar Məmmədli), Baki İstintaq Tecridxanasi, Kürdaxani qesebesi, Baku AZ1000, Azerbaijan

Bashir Suleymanli (Bəşir Süleymanlı), Baki İstintaq Tecridxanasi, Kürdaxani qesebesi, Baku AZ1000, Azerbaijan

Khadija Ismayilova (Xədicə İsmayıl), Baki İstintaq Tecridxanasi, Kürdaxani qesebesi, Baku AZ1000, Azerbaijan

Arif Yunusov, MTN Intintaq Tecridxanasi, Parlament Prospekti, 14, Baku AZ1006, Azerbaijan

REFERENCE

Leyla Yunus (was arrested in the 30 of July) – director of the Azerbaijan Institute of Peace and Democracy. Merit in advocacy Leyla Yunus awarded the prize “Knight of the Legion of Honor of France,” she is also the winner of the International Prize Theodore Hecker. She is accused of 217 (parricide), 178 (fraud), 192 (illegal business) and 213 (tax evasion) of the Criminal Code. She detained for three months. Analysis of the situation in a statement.

Rasul Jafarov (was arrested in the 2 of August) – one of the initiators and coordinators of the campaign “Sing for Democracy” and “The Art of Democracy”, advocated for the rights of political prisoners, actively participated in the International Platform “Civil Solidarity.” He is accused of: tax evasion (Article 192), illegal business (Article 213) and malpractice (Article 308). Statement by the Civil Solidarity Platform

Arif Yunus (was arrested in the 6 of August) – Head of the Department of Conflict and Migration Institute of Peace and Democracy in Azerbaijan, Ph.D., a conflictologist, a historian. Were initiated the criminal case concerning him under the next article 274 (parricide) и 178 (fraud). More about his arrest

Anar Mammadli and Bashir Suleymanli (arrested on 16 December 2013, sentenced to 5.5 and 3.5 years respectively in May 2014) are prominent human rights activists and founders of the Election Monitoring and Democracy Studies Centre. Arrested and jailed, following outspoken criticism of presidential elections in October 2013, in spite of international protests. On 29 September 2014, Mammadli was awarded the Václav Havel Award for Human Rights by the Council of Europe. Analysis of the situation in a statement.

Intigam Aliyev (arrested on 8 August) is a human rights defender and a lawyer specialized in defending rights of citizens in the European Court of Human Rights. He is charged with Articles 213.1 (tax evasion), 308.2 (malpractice) и 192.2 (illegal business) of the Criminal Code.

Khadija Ismayilova (arrested on 5 December) is an investigative journalist and radio host who is currently working for the Azerbaijani service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. She is a member of the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project. She was arrested under charges of incitement to suicide, a charge widely criticized by human rights organizations. Analysis of the situation in a statement.