Amnesty International called on Azerbaijani authorities to stop attacks on peaceful protestors ahead of an opposition rally scheduled for April 17.

“The Azerbaijani authorities must allow this protest to go ahead. Peaceful demonstrations are the very essence of the freedoms of expression and assembly. These rights, and those seeking to exercise them, are being trampled on in Azerbaijan. The international community must do more to put pressure on the government to end this crackdown,” said John Dalhuisen, Deputy Director of Amnesty International’s Europe and Central Asia Programme.

Azerbaijani Government announced on Friday they would not allow Sunday’s protest.