Arrested activist initiates campaign "Voices of Victims"

Arrested human rights activist Rasul Jafarov initiated the campaign "Voices of Victims". The purpose of the initiative  is  to assess the mass murder of civilians in Baku on 20 January 1990 the Soviet troops from the perspective of human rights.

It is planned to draft  relevant reports as well as the creation of a working group that will campaign on an ongoing basis. It is planned to investigate in the framework of this initiative  the Khojaly genocide and other events of a similar nature. The arrested  Rasul Jafarov intends to personally lead the campaign, despite the limited opportunities.

* On January 20, 1990 the Soviet army launched a punitive operation in Baku in order to suppress the growing national liberation movement and prevent Azerbaijan’s leaving the  USSR. During the operation  more than 130 people were killed,  and more than 700 people were  injured.

**The head of the  Human Rights Club, the coordinator of the campaign “Art for Democracy” Rasul Jafarov was arrested on 2 August 2014 g on charges of illegal business, tax evasion and abuse of office. Subsequently, he was also charged with embezzlement and official forgery. He denies the charges, and says they are politically motivated.

Amnesty International recognized Jafarov as  “prisoner of conscience.”- 06D—