The Ombudsman addressed the nation with regard to the Coronavirus epidemic

The Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ms. Sabina Aliyeva addressed the nation with regard the new type of coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic.

The statement reads:

“Dear compatriots, fathers, mothers, sisters and brothers!

This is known that a new type of Coronavirus (COVID-19) is spreading rapidly around the world. Therefore, the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared Coronavirus outbreak a global pandemic.

This is due to the long incubation period of the virus, the rate of spread and the lack of a vaccine and in accordance with the recommendations and requirements of the WHO, high-level urgent measures are being realized in our country; and this issue is under the special attention and control of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mr. Ilham Aliyev, and the First Vice-President, Ms. Mehriban Aliyeva.

It is commendable that upon the instructions of the country’s leadership, the Operational Headquarters under the Cabinet of Ministers, consisting of the heads of relevant state bodies and agencies, established with the aim to prevent the threat of Coronavirus infection in the territory of Azerbaijan, to implement urgent preventive and combative measures, continues its activities successfully; appropriate steps are undertaken, necessary decisions are made.

At the meeting of the Operational Headquarters under the Cabinet of Ministers chaired by Prime Minister Mr. Ali Asadov, dated March 23, 2020, taking into account the experience of different countries in combating the global Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and taking the protection of public health as the highest goal in accordance with Article 25 of the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan “On Sanitary and Epidemiologic wellbeing” in order to prevent the spread of coronavirus infection in the country and its possible complications, decision was issued on applying a special quarantine regime in the Republic of Azerbaijan from March 24, from 12.00 am to April 20, 2020 till 12:00 am.

Dear compatriots!

All these measures taken with the purpose to strengthen the relevant preventive and prophylactic measures in the Republic of Azerbaijan serve to prevent the spread of COVID-19 infection in our country and to protect the health of the population, including the elderly, children and people with disabilities as one of the most vulnerable groups.

Therefore, I call every person and the population as a whole to unconditionally follow the decisions, proposals and recommendations of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mr. Ilham Aliyev and the First Vice-President Ms. Mehriban Aliyeva, the WHO, the Operational Headquarters under the Cabinet of Ministers and stay at home, to comply with the conditions of self-isolation and strongly recommend to call the appropriate hotline (103 or 15-42) for those who experience symptoms characteristic of the new strain of coronavirus.

I believe that we will successfully pass this examine as a result of the maximum responsibility of the population in the current situation and the full support of the measures taken by the state.

In addition, we state that despite the temporary suspension of live reception of citizens in the Office and regional centers of the Ombudsman due to the current situation in the country, you can contact us by post, online application, e-mail, fax, Facebook, as well as hotlines (050 370 98 96 and 012 916).”

Sabina Aliyeva

The Commissioner for Human Rights

(Ombudsman) of the Republic of Azerbaijan

March 24, 2020