![Akif Gurbanov nominated for Václav Havel human rights prize](https://turan.az/resized/news/2024/VDc6oWsmBm8lK7a86hpiN2qwaJJBTHlneNSpZHHs-750-500-resize.webp)
Akif Gurbanov nominated for Václav Havel human rights prize
Akif Gurbanov nominated for Václav Havel human rights prize
On August 27, the selection committee for the Václav Havel Human Rights Prize announced the shortlist of candidates for the 2024 award. The prize, given for outstanding contributions by civil society to the defense of human rights in Europe and beyond, recognizes individuals and organizations making significant impacts.
The meeting in Prague, chaired by Theodoros Roussopoulos, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), included the following three nominees on the shortlist: Akif Gurbanov from Azerbaijan; María Corina Machado from Venezuela; Babutsa Pataraya from Georgia.
According to a press release from PACE, Gurbanov is a human rights defender, political activist, and active member of Azerbaijan's civil society. He is a co-founder of the Democratic Initiative Institute (DII) and the Third Republic Platform. Gurbanov was arrested in March 2024 during a crackdown on journalists and activists in Azerbaijan.
María Corina Machado is a prominent political figure in Venezuela, known for her active defense of human rights. She co-founded the Venezuelan volunteer organization "Súmate," which focuses on civil and political freedoms, rights, and civic participation.
Babutsa Pataraya is a leading feminist activist and human rights lawyer in Georgia. She has been the director of the NGO "Sapari," which supports women's rights and assists victims of violence since 2013. For over a decade, she has been fighting against femicide, sexual violence, and harassment.
The winner of the Václav Havel Prize for Human Rights for 2024 will be announced at the opening of the PACE autumn plenary session in Strasbourg on September 30. The award, established in 2013, consists of €60,000, a trophy, and a diploma. It is presented annually by PACE in partnership with the Václav Havel Library and the Charta 77 Foundation.
The prize has been awarded since 2013. The representative of Azerbaijan became its laureate in 2014, when the prize was awarded to the imprisoned human rights defender Anar Mammadli, who is now imprisoned again.
-
- Politics
- 27 August 2024 17:14
Politics
-
Javid Aga, an activist and researcher, has not been in contact since this morning. According to social media reports, Aga was scheduled to fly abroad from Baku at 06:50 this morning to continue his education. However, he has not informed his family or friends about clearing passport control. Furthermore, the airline on which Aga was supposed to fly has informed his friends that he did not board the plane. His colleagues are concerned that Aga may have been detained.
-
On August 27, in the Baku Serious Crimes Court, witness Ramil Babayev testified in the trial of labor activist Afiyaddin Mammadov. Babayev stated that he was present at the scene of the incident on the day in question. According to Babayev, he was drawn to the scene by the "noise and insults." However, when asked by Mammadov's lawyer, Babayev clarified that he did not actually see Mammadov inflicting a knife wound on the victim. Instead, he reported that other people present at the scene told him there had been a "knife attack."
-
Journalists from the independent online outlet Meydan TV were denied entry to a meeting between parliamentary candidate Tanzila Rustamkhanly and voters at the Olympic Sports Complex in the city of Neftchala. A representative from the sports complex told the journalists that they were "provocateurs" and "working for foreign enemies of Azerbaijan," claiming that they had no place at the election event. This information was revealed in a video posted on Meydan TV's Facebook page.
-
Russian President Vladimir Putin has sent a congratulatory message to Mehriban Aliyeva, the First Vice President of Azerbaijan, on the occasion of her birthday. "Your personal contribution to strengthening the allied relations between our countries and the mutually beneficial bilateral cooperation in various fields is highly valued in Russia," the message from the Russian President reads. Wishing Mehriban Aliyeva good health, happiness, prosperity, and success in her official duties, Putin also extended greetings to Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev and other members of their family. Mehriban Aliyeva celebrated her birthday on August 26.
Leave a review