The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint programme of the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) and the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), has received new information and requests your urgent intervention in the following situation in Georgia.
New information:
However, Mr. Azer Samedov remains accused of "participation in mass disorders" (article 220 of the Criminal Code) and "resistance to the representatives of authorities" (article 315), relating to the troubles occurred in October 2003 in Baku, after the announcement of the presidential elections results, and which he was actually monitoring.
The Observatory welcomes the release on bail of Mr. Samedov and thanks all the persons, organisations and institutions who intervened in favour of this decision. Nevertheless, the Observatory strongly expresses its deepest concern regarding the arbitrary charges pronounced against Mr. Samedov and the extradition procedure initiated against him, as he may face serious risks of unfair trial and ill-treatment in Azerbaijan.
Background information:
On March 31, 2006, Mr. Samedov was arrested in Tbilisi, Georgia, by officers of the Anti-terrorist Centre of the Ministry of Interior, on the request of the Anti-terrorist Service of the Ministry of National Security of Azerbaijan. On April 2, 2006, the Tbilisi City Court had approved his detention at the Investigating Prison n°5 of Tbilisi, until the end of the extradition procedure to Azerbaijan initiated against him.
Action requested:
Please write to the authorities of Georgia urging them to:
i. Guarantee in all circumstances the physical and psychological integrity of Mr. Azer Samedov;
ii. Drop the charges against Mr. Azer Samedov as they are arbitrary, and put an immediate end to the extradition procedure to Azerbaijan initiated against him;
iii. Conform with the provisions of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on December 9, 1998, especially its article 1, which states that "everyone has the right, individually or in association with others, to promote and to strive for the protection and realisation of human rights and fundamental freedoms at the national and international levels" and article 12-2 which provides that "the State shall take all necessary measures to ensure the protection by the competent authorities of everyone, individually or in association with others, against any violence, threats, retaliation, de facto or de jure adverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action as a consequence of his or her legitimate exercise of the rights referred to in the present Declaration";
iv. Ensure in all circumstances respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with international human rights standards and international instruments ratified by Georgia.
Addresses :
– Mr. Mikhail Saakashvili, President, State Chancellery, 7 Ingorokhva Street. 380034 Tbilisi, Georgia; Tel: + 995 32 99 96 53, Fax: (+ 995 32) 99 92 00, E-mail: pr@president.gov.ge
– Mr. Konstantin Korkelia, Secretary, National Security Council of Georgia, 7 Ingorokhva Street. 380034 Tbilisi, Georgia, Tel: +995 32 93 23 22 ; Fax: +995 32 98 99 72 ; E-mail: snsc@gol.ge
– Human Rights Service of the National Security Council: Tel: + 995 32 93-13-22 ; Fax: + 995 32 92-35-58
– Mr. Ivane Merabishvili, Minister of Interior, Ministry of Interior of Georgia, Tel: +995 32 99 62 96 / 99 80 50 / 99 95 55; Fax: +995 32 98 71 46 / 99 95 24; E-mail: presscenter@pol.ge
– Ms. Elene Tevdoradze; Head of the Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights Petitions and Relations with the Civil Society, Parliament of Georgia, 8 Rustaveli Avenue. 380018 Tbilisi, Georgia; Tel: +995 32 99 69 51; Fax: +995 32 92 15 63 / 92 33 50
– Mr. Gia Kavtaradze, Minister of Justice, 19, Griboedov st, Tbilisi, 380008, Georgia, Tel: +995 32 93 27 21 / 93 50 49 / 75-82-22; Fax: +995 32 93 02 25 / 75-82-22 ; Email:justice@justice.gov.ge
– Mr Zurab Adeishvili, General Prosecutor of Georgia, 24 Gorgasali st, 380014, Tbilisi, Georgia; Tel:+995 32 98 21 54 / 93 23 44 / 93 68 45 / 99 06 68; Fax: +995 32 98 21 70
– Mr Sozar Subari, Ombudsman of Georgia, 11, Machabeli street, Tbilisi 0107, Georgia, Phone: + 995 32 92 39 60 / 92 24 78 / 92 24 81 / 93 15 85; Fax: + 995 32 92 24 70; Email: info@ombudsman.ge
– Mr. Alexander Chikvaidze, Ambassador, Permanent mission of Georgia to the United Nations in Geneva, Rue Richard Wagner 1, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland, Fax: + 41 22 733 90 33 ; Email: geomission.geneva@bluewin.ch
Please also write to the diplomatic representations of Georgia in your respective countries.
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Geneva-Paris, April 20, 2006
Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this appeal in your reply.
The Observatory, a FIDH and OMCT venture, is dedicated to the protection of Human Rights Defenders and aims to offer them concrete support in their time of need.
The Observatory was the winner of the 1998 Human Rights Prize of the French Republic.
To contact the Observatory, call the emergency line:
Email : Appeals@fidh-omct.org
Tel et fax FIDH : + 33 1 43 55 55 05 / 33 1 43 55 18 80
Tel et fax OMCT : +41 22 809 49 39 / 41 22 809 49 29