The Azerbaijani authorities are continuing their crackdown on political opposition, and heavy-handed approach in response to peaceful protests, in violation of the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. Arbitrary and violent arrests, torture and other ill-treatment of peaceful protesters by Azerbaijani police must stop. The authorities must immediately and unconditionally release all those detained for exercising their right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, effectively investigate all cases of unnecessary or excessive use of force by the police in the street, and allegations of torture and other ill-treatment of detainees, and bring those suspected to be responsible to justice.
