Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BAKU17
2009-01-12 13:26:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Baku
Cable title:
ANTI-ISRAEL PROTESTERS DETAINED-- SOME RELEASED
how-toVZCZCXRO4728 OO RUEHAG RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHKB #0017 0121326 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 121326Z JAN 09 FM AMEMBASSY BAKU TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0588 INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES PRIORITY RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA PRIORITY 3201 RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV PRIORITY 0058 RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE PRIORITY 1237
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAKU 000017
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/CARC AND DRL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/12/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM AJ
SUBJECT: ANTI-ISRAEL PROTESTERS DETAINED-- SOME RELEASED
Classified By: Political-Economic Chief Rob Garverick, for reasons 1.4
(b,d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAKU 000017
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/CARC AND DRL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/12/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM AJ
SUBJECT: ANTI-ISRAEL PROTESTERS DETAINED-- SOME RELEASED
Classified By: Political-Economic Chief Rob Garverick, for reasons 1.4
(b,d).
1. (C) SUMMARY: On January 2 approximately 150-200 people,
largely young religious people, attempted to protest Israel's
actions in Gaza outside the Israeli Embassy in Baku. About
150 were temporarily detained, and 25 were charged with
violations of the administrative code. Journalists and
reporters say violent force was used to break up the protest.
Those sentenced to short terms in prison have begun to be
released on schedule. This incident highlights the continued
negative trend with regards to freedom of assembly in
Azerbaijan. END SUMMARY.
2. (SBU) On January 2 a group of approximately 150-200
people attempted to protest outside Israel's Embassy in Baku
regarding the current military actions in Gaza. Protesters
claim their intentions were entirely peaceful. The attempted
protest was broken up by police, however, and several
protesters, including journalists covering the event, claim
they were beaten by police. Approximately 150 of the
protesters were detained by police and forced to sign a
written statement, and then all but 25 of them were released.
3. (C) The 25 persons detained for longer than a few hours
were charged with violations of article 310 of the
administrative code, which prohibits "deliberate
insubordination to legal demands of military or police."
Five of the 25 were released later in the day of January 2,
but the other twenty were given sentences ranging from ten to
fourteen days (this is the maximum allowed under the law).
It is unclear why these particular participants were charged,
although human rights defender Elchin Behbudov claims that
the twenty had all completed the Hajj. Behbudov also stated
that the detainees did not complain of any torture while they
were held in jail, but insist that their detention was
illegal as their protest was peaceful.
4. (C) On January 8 the Israeli Embassy's Deputy Chief of
Mission Yehudit Galilee-Metzer told an Embassy Official that
that her Embassy had not seen the protesters and had no
interaction with the GOAJ about their detention. She said
the GOAJ had stepped up protection of their Embassy on their
own initiative.
5. (SBU) On January 12 the seven detainees given ten day
sentences were released on schedule. It is expected that the
remaining thirteen detainees will be released on schedule on
January 16.
COMMENT
--------------
6. (C) While this protest may have been illegal under the
revised Law on Freedom of Assembly if it was within 200
meters of the Israeli Embassy, the allegations of improper
use of force, especially against journalists not
participating in the protest, are alarming. Despite
government claims to the contrary, the protest appears to
have been peaceful, and the protesters did not appear to
present any direct threat to the Israeli Embassy. The
appearance that certain protesters were targeted for arrest
because of religious activity is disturbing, and could be a
case of over-reach by local authorities. No matter what the
issue, GOAJ authorities seem to have little appetite for
protests.
LU
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/CARC AND DRL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/12/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM AJ
SUBJECT: ANTI-ISRAEL PROTESTERS DETAINED-- SOME RELEASED
Classified By: Political-Economic Chief Rob Garverick, for reasons 1.4
(b,d).
1. (C) SUMMARY: On January 2 approximately 150-200 people,
largely young religious people, attempted to protest Israel's
actions in Gaza outside the Israeli Embassy in Baku. About
150 were temporarily detained, and 25 were charged with
violations of the administrative code. Journalists and
reporters say violent force was used to break up the protest.
Those sentenced to short terms in prison have begun to be
released on schedule. This incident highlights the continued
negative trend with regards to freedom of assembly in
Azerbaijan. END SUMMARY.
2. (SBU) On January 2 a group of approximately 150-200
people attempted to protest outside Israel's Embassy in Baku
regarding the current military actions in Gaza. Protesters
claim their intentions were entirely peaceful. The attempted
protest was broken up by police, however, and several
protesters, including journalists covering the event, claim
they were beaten by police. Approximately 150 of the
protesters were detained by police and forced to sign a
written statement, and then all but 25 of them were released.
3. (C) The 25 persons detained for longer than a few hours
were charged with violations of article 310 of the
administrative code, which prohibits "deliberate
insubordination to legal demands of military or police."
Five of the 25 were released later in the day of January 2,
but the other twenty were given sentences ranging from ten to
fourteen days (this is the maximum allowed under the law).
It is unclear why these particular participants were charged,
although human rights defender Elchin Behbudov claims that
the twenty had all completed the Hajj. Behbudov also stated
that the detainees did not complain of any torture while they
were held in jail, but insist that their detention was
illegal as their protest was peaceful.
4. (C) On January 8 the Israeli Embassy's Deputy Chief of
Mission Yehudit Galilee-Metzer told an Embassy Official that
that her Embassy had not seen the protesters and had no
interaction with the GOAJ about their detention. She said
the GOAJ had stepped up protection of their Embassy on their
own initiative.
5. (SBU) On January 12 the seven detainees given ten day
sentences were released on schedule. It is expected that the
remaining thirteen detainees will be released on schedule on
January 16.
COMMENT
--------------
6. (C) While this protest may have been illegal under the
revised Law on Freedom of Assembly if it was within 200
meters of the Israeli Embassy, the allegations of improper
use of force, especially against journalists not
participating in the protest, are alarming. Despite
government claims to the contrary, the protest appears to
have been peaceful, and the protesters did not appear to
present any direct threat to the Israeli Embassy. The
appearance that certain protesters were targeted for arrest
because of religious activity is disturbing, and could be a
case of over-reach by local authorities. No matter what the
issue, GOAJ authorities seem to have little appetite for
protests.
LU