Political Prisoners in Azerbaijan Report Threats, Limits After New Committee Formed

IHR
5 days ago
2 min read

Political prisoners in Azerbaijan report increased pressure, limited communication, and blocked calls after the new SMMK committee formed. Activists claim their charges are fake and politically motivated retribution for civic and labor rights work. Read the full report on the escalating situation. — Afiaddin Mammadov

Afiaddin Mammadov, the imprisoned head of the Worker's Table Confederation of Trade Unions, said in a statement through his family that he and other political prisoners in Prison Facility No. 2 are under increased pressure. He claims the pressure and limits came after the Committee for the Protection of Political Prisoners (SMMK) was created on November 24.

Claims of Pressure:

Mammadov says the prison head, Vusal Aslanov, is acting illegally and stopping prisoner complaints from getting to state authorities. He said that two SMMK co-founders, Samir Ashurov and Mehman Aliyev, were called in and threatened after the Committee's founding announcement. Ashurov is a political activist, and Aliyev is a member of the Azerbaijan Popular Front Party (AXCP).

Examples of the alleged harassment:

Limited Communication: All political prisoners can only meet visitors through a glass wall.
Denied Phone Calls: Prisoners' names are called last during counts to stop them from using their phone call rights because of time limits.

Who is Responsible?

Mammadov warned that Azerbaijani Justice Minister Farid Ahmadov and the Head of the Penitentiary Service, Mirsaleh Seyidov, would be to blame if any provocation happens to him or other political prisoners.

Prisoner Backgrounds:

The three men say the criminal charges against them are false. They claim they are political prisoners being punished for their civic and labor rights work.

Name / Role/Group	Official Charge	Sentence	Claim
Afiaddin Mammadov / Worker's Table leader	Illegal arms and hooliganism	8 years	Charges are fake and politically motivated.
Samir Ashurov / Political Activist / SMMK Member	Hooliganism	6.5 years	Denies charge; says it's political.
Mehman Aliyev / AXCP Member / SMMK Member	Drug offense	5 years	Denies charge; says it's political.

Official Response:

Local human rights groups state that Azerbaijan has over 390 political prisoners. Yet, Azerbaijani officials deny this. They say everyone on the lists was convicted for criminal acts. They also claim no prisoner faces discrimination for their political views. The Penitentiary Service has said that all prisoners are treated lawfully.