Amnesty International urges Baku to respect freedom of speechFebruary 17, 2011 - 13:21 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Amnesty International has expressed concern about an opposition member in Azerbaijan who was arrested after calling for an anti-government protest on Facebook. The rights group says 20-year-old student Jabbar Savalan was arrested on February 5 after he called for an Egypt-style rally in a central Baku square on the social network website. Savalan is a member of the opposition Azerbaijan Popular Front Party, which is a youth organization. Before his arrest, he had posted an article critical of Azerbaijan's president that originated in a Turkish newspaper. He also participated in an anti-government protest in January. Savalan's lawyer said authorities arrested him and searched him without giving a reason. Savalan was later charged with possession of drugs. The French news agency reports that an appeals court in Azerbaijan ruled Wednesday that he must remain in detention pending trial on the drug charges. It reports the interior ministry has denied that the case has any connection with politics. Azerbaijan has a history of harassing and jailing journalists and bloggers critical of the government. Amnesty International says authorities summoned another member of the opposition Azerbaijan Popular Front Party on February 9 to question him about posts he had made on Facebook, calling young people to action after Savalan's arrest, VOA News reported. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Concept to complete Yerevan Cascade discussed at city hall A conceptual proposal to complete the Cascade complex in downtown Yerevan has been presented by Jean-Michel Wilmotte. Pashinyan visits flood-hit region Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Saturday, June 8 visited the disaster area in the Lori province. €3.5 mln EU grant to support justice reforms in Armenia The European Union has paid €3.5 mln grant to Armenia within a €11mln program on Support to Justice Reforms. Yerevan reacts to Baku’s proposal to see Minsk Group abolition Alen Simonyan has declared that Armenia is taking steps aimed at concluding a peace treaty with Azerbaijan. |