Baku / 02.08.18 / Turan: Azerbaijan is the leader in terms of the number of political prisoners in Europe. Currently there are more than 160 political prisoners in the country. This was stated in an interview with the program Chetin Sual (Difficult Question) of Turan News Agency by the coordinator of the Center for the Protection of Political Prisoners Ogtay Gulaliyev.
According to him, this problem is constantly in the focus of attention of the international democratic community and official Baku is under pressure.
In his opinion, the authorities are doomed to solve this issue cardinally. The information that the authorities will take decisive steps in this direction in the near future seems to be truthful.
The authorities made many promises to international structures, but they did not fully implement them. Now the issue is approaching the red line, after which Baku may face serious problems with the democratic community, he believes.
According to the human rights activist, the problem of political prisoners is connected with the authoritarian essence of power. People are persecuted for political views, criticism of the government, dissent, there is no free press and television in the country, freedom of expression and assembly is severely limited, and people are thrown into prison on false accusations. At the root of all these repressions is the instinct of self-preservation of the ruling regime.
"But I think that the authorities themselves understand that throwing innocent people in jails, it is impossible to remain in control for a long time. The authorities will have to change their policies. The world is changing, the region is changing, and people are changing. We must look ahead and make compromises," Gulaliyev said.
In the country, fundamental rights must be restored. They should be guaranteed by independent courts, civil society revived, political reforms implemented, democratic elections held, and real integration in the Western world provided. -06D-
Difficult question
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Political analyst Shahin Jafarli discusses this question in the program "Difficult Question." The expert believes that the Charter on Strategic Partnership between Armenia and the United States, signed on January 14 by Armenia's Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, marks a significant shift in Armenia's foreign policy. He also noted that just a few days earlier, on January 9, the Armenian government approved a draft law initiating the process of the country's accession to the European Union, which will now be presented to parliament for consideration.
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On January 14, the United States of America (USA) and Armenia signed a Charter. Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken signed the Charter on Strategic Partnership between Yerevan and Washington in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, January 14.
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Keçmiş diplomat, siyasi şərhçi Nahid Cəfərov Azərbaycanın xarici siyasəti barədə Kamran Mahmudovun təqdimatında yayımlanan “Çətin sual” verilişində danışır.
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Qərbi Azərbaycan mövzusu son günlər həm Azərbaycan, həm də Ermənistan rəsmiləri tərəfindən tez-tez gündəmə gətirilir.
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