violation Archives

Reports of continued human rights violations in southeast Turkey worrying: UN

September 13, 2016 by administrator

The UN high commissioner for human rights has voiced concerns over allegations of continued violations of international law in southeast Turkey.

Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein made the remarks during a speech at the 33rd session of the Human Rights Council held in Geneva on Tuesday.

“We have received repeated and serious allegations of on-going violations of international law as well as human rights concerns, including civilian deaths, extrajudicial killings and massive displacement,” he said.

While adding that his concerns over people’s rights in the region remain “acute,” the high commissioner stressed that sufficient consideration must be lent toward the humanitarian and protection requirements for the thousands who have been displaced and affected by Ankara’s actions in the region.

“We continue to receive reports of destruction and demolition of towns and villages in the southeast,” he added

Stressing that the Turkish government has so far refrained from granting unfettered access to the region, he noted that, “We have therefore set up a temporary monitoring capacity based in Geneva, and we will continue to inform this Council of our concerns.”

Turkey’s mainly Kurdish southeast has been the scene of severe clashes between government forces and the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) since a shaky peace mechanism, which had started out between the two sides back in 2013, collapsed last year. It is estimated that the resumption of the hostilities killed nearly 2,000 people between July 2015 and July 2016.

‘They know how it’s done’: Turkey violated Greek airspace 2,244 times in 2014 alone

November 25, 2015 by administrator

FILE PHOTO: A Greek Air Force officer operates the radar of a Patriot air defence missiles at Tatoi air base, north of Athens © Yiorgos Karahalis / Reuters

Turkish claims that the downed Russian Su-24 jet “violated” its airspace have sparked outrage among Greeks, who took to social media to say it is a clear-cut case of double standards as Turkish jets breached Greek airspace 2,244 times in 2014 alone.

They wondered what would happen if Greece had authorized engagement of Turkish aircraft, which breach the country’s borders on a regular basis.

The Turks are trying to enforce sovereignty over disputed islands and bring Greece to the negotiating table,” Thanos Dokos, the director general of the Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy, told the Politico news website in July. “What’s worrying are the low-altitude flights, often by helicopters, over these islands.”

Turkey fails to respect the 10-mile airspace surrounding the Aegean Islands, which causes numerous dogfights between Greek and Turkish aircraft invading the area. From January to October 2015, the country’s airspace was violated 1,233 times including 31 flights over Greek territory itself, according to the Greek Air Force’s headquarters. Greek media noted the Turks are taking advantage of the country’s economic hardships.

“In the case of air incursions, you have to react,” Thanos Dokos said. “It’s very hard to unilaterally pull back from a situation of military aggression. It’s a tragic situation, because the money we’re spending on dogfights with Turkey is money that we could have spent on other areas of defense.”

Media attention has also focused on Turkish naval vessels repeatedly breaching national maritime borders. Over just seven months – from January to July 2015 – the Turkish Navy made 175 incursions into Greek maritime waters. In June, the Turkish Navy ship, the Gelibolu, repeatedly went on “patrol” in Greek territorial waters, a move that angered many in Greece.

Earlier on Wednesday, Greek Foreign Minister Nikas Kotzias expressed solidarity with Russia in a phone conversation with Russian FM Sergei Lavrov. The Russian Foreign Ministry said: “Athens agrees with the Russian president’s assessment on Ankara’s hostile actions, which are contrary to the goals of the anti-ISIS coalition,” RIA Novosti reports.

Greece, according to its Foreign Ministry, “especially compreh

https://twitter.com/CodeAud/status/669421583748976640

Armenian side foils border violation attempt by Azerbaijani unit in Yeraskh

October 2, 2015 by administrator

Around 10:30 pm yesterday, on October 1, one of the Azerbaijani units deployed in Nakhijevan made an attempt – for a reason unclear to the Armenian side – to violate the state border at the southwestern section of the Armenian-Azerbaijani state border, in the Yeraskh direction. The attempt was noticed in the neutral zone and foiled by the Armenian armed forces, the press service of Armenian Defense Ministry said.

The enemy retreated as a result of an exchange of fire.

“Armenian Defense Ministry warns that amid the absence of tension in the Nakhijevan direction of Armenian-Azerbaijani state border, the enemy’s attempts to escalate the situation will be punished severely,” the press service of Armenian defense ministry said.

Australian Parliamentarian Slams Azerbaijan on Human Rights and Karabakh in Federal Parliament

September 16, 2015 by administrator

Australian Federal Parliament member for Bennelong, Australia, John Alexander (Source: ANC Australia)

CANBERRA—Federal parliament member for Bennelong, Australia, John Alexander has delivered a blistering speech on the floor of Australian parliament after meeting with a visiting Azeribaijani parliament member, condemning Azerbaijan’s ongoing disregard for human rights and peace in Nagorno-Karabakh, the Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC Australia) reports.

His statement was delivered following a meeting – in his capacity as Chair of the House Standing Committee on Economics – with Azerbaijani parliament member Khanlar Fatiyev, who is visiting Australia as part of an official Azeribaijani Parliamentary delegation.

After attacking Azerbaijan’s capture of human rights activists, Alexander said: “I also raised my strong concerns about Azerbaijan’s actions in the on-going dispute with Armenia in Nagorno-Karabakh. Azerbaijan has invested over $1 billion in armored vehicles and artillery in the past few years, making a mockery of any supposed desire for peace in the region.”

He added: “As we commemorate the centenary of the commencement of the Armenian Genocide it is essential for us as community leaders to call out persecution, and to stress to trading partners like Azerbaijan the importance of protecting human rights and political freedoms for all.”

ANC Australia’s Executive Director, Vache Kahramanian remarked: “John Alexander today spoke truthfully and powerfully on the true character of Azerbaijan. That country has spent billions around the world in an attempt to showcase itself as a democracy but actions speak louder than words.”

“Australia is a country built on the rule of law and on the fundamental respect for human rights. Azerbaijan has continued to be a blatant violator of human rights, ranking poorly in global rankings for consecutive years. Its ongoing aggression towards Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh have further added to its sorry state of affairs,” Kahramanian added.

“Mr. Alexander has had a long track record of setting the record straight in the Australian Parliament on such important matters. Australia has been well served by this distinguished leader who speaks openly and honestly on such important matters,” Kahramanian concluded.

ECHR rules Baku must pay € 14,000 over violation of journalist’s rights

June 19, 2015 by administrator

On June 18, the European Court of Human Rights ruled a judgment in the case “Mehdiyev against Azerbaijan.”

As Tert.am reports citing contact.az, the Court revealed a violation of Hakimeldostu Mehdiyev’s rights, maltreatment, imprisonment by the Ministry of National Security of Nakhchivan for his journalistic activities.

The reason for the persecution became Mehdiyev’s publication about violation of citizens’ rights in 2007, after which he was summoned to the local office of the National Security Ministry, where they started beating him with truncheons, demanding to stop his journalistic activity. After that, he was taken to court and arrested for 15 days for resisting police. While in custody, he was refused food and water, and was released without explanation in 4 days.

The authorities have not acknowledged the arrest of Mehdiyev.

The European Court ruled that the government of Azerbaijan is obliged to pay Mehdiyev 10,000 euros as compensation and 4,000 euros for legal and other expenses.

Tert.am. Azerbaijan loses another case in at ECHR