The Guardian's special report on Azerbaijan: "Turning black gold into sporting glitter: what Azerbaijan tells us about modern sport"
The Guardian's Owen Gibson visits Baku in the run up to the European Games describing the hidden crackdown behind all the glitz and glamor of the capital. Gibson also had a chance to interview Khadija Ismayilova just two days prior to her arrest.
"We are a kind of a loser nation. We failed in a lot of things in our rcent history. These games, the Eurovision song contest, bring us an illusion of victory. It's also an opportunity to earn a lot of money. They contracts to build venues, hotels, concert halls, roads are all being given to the president's families and oligarch's families" said Ismayilova in her interview with Gibson.
Azerbaijan top aid says criticism against Azerbaijan is baseless
It did not take long for Azerbaijan's top government aid to respond to an interview with Tom Malinowski, Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor with "Real Time" on Azerbaijan's growing crackdown against human rights defenders, activists and freedom of expression.
Ali Hasanov, head of the Socio-Political Department in an intervew with a local media outlet in Azerbaijan said the interview and Malinowski's opinion do not reflect the reality or are true. "Azerbaijan is committed to democracy, human rights, freedom of speech and media. Despite this, some people claim otherwise. I think, it is not Azerbaijan crossing the line but those who are accusing us really crossing the line", said Hasanov.
The US Official Call On Baku To Free Khadija And Stop The Crackdown
Tom Malinowski, The Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor spoke to Shahida Yakub, the host of Currenttime.tv about the arrest of Khadija Ismayilova. The US official says Washington's message to Baku is clear: the crackdown on civil society in Azerbaijan must stop now, it jeopardizes relations between two countries.
You can write letters appealing for Khadija's release
Amnesty International, launched this urgent action in support of Khadija Ismayilova.
"Please write immediately in Azerbaijani, English or your own language:
- Calling on the authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Khadija Ismayilova, as she is a prisoner of conscience, detained solely for exercising her right to freedom of expression;
- Calling on the authorities to ensure that disciplinary proceedings against lawyers are not arbitrarily used to undermine the right to a fair trial of Azerbaijani human rights defenders;
- Insisting on full respect for, and protection of, the right to freedom of expression in Azerbaijan.
For more information on the campaign click here.
Amnesty International also declared Khadija Ismayilova prisoner of conscience.