The National Council of Democratic Forces of Azerbaijan has called on the international community to take tough measures in response to political repressions and gross human rights violations by official Baku.

Targeted sanctions are required against officials involved in human rights abuses and arrests of public and political activists, reads the statement of the structure, which includes members of the Party of People’s Front of Azerbaijan and a number of prominent public figures of the country,

The statement was adopted due to the threat to the life of Bakhtiyar Hajiyev and the continuation of political repressions in the country.

The National Council called on Azerbaijanis to defend civil society more actively.

“The people must not succumb to an atmosphere of fear, but must participate more actively in defending their rights and freedoms and for fundamental changes in the country,” the statement said.

The life of social activist Bakhtiyar Hajiyev, who has been on hunger strike for 45 days to protest his arrest and defamation, is in danger.

In the last month alone 14 social and political activists were sentenced to administrative arrest for 25 to 30 days.

Recall that 5 of them are members of the PPFA; 6 are members of the Muslim Unity movement; 2 are members of the D-18 movement and 1 is a neutral public figure.

Zamin Salayev, chairman of the Salyan branch of the PPFA, a former political prisoner, was once again prosecuted on trumped-up charges and sentenced to 3 months of imprisonment,” the document said

Source: Turan News Agency