National Council calls on democratic forces to intensify efforts for the release of political prisoners

National Council of Democratic Forces (NCDF) of Azerbaijan demanded from the authorities' immediate release of political prisoners, and stop the persecution of citizens for dissent.  The declaration adopted on December 3 indicates a steady increase in the number of political prisoners in Azerbaijan.

The most dangerous thing is that the authorities carry out political arrests more comfortable than before. Clear evidence  is the  trials of political activists on  concocted charges taking place in Baku.

NCJA announced a priority task to fight for the liberation of the arrested on concocted charges of social activists, politicians, their relatives, believers, journalists, youth, social networking sites on the Internet.

 The NCDF considers necessary revision work on the problem of political prisoners, increased efforts in this direction of local and international organizations.

  It is necessary to  bring up the  question  on the negative role and questionable steps  of the Council of Europe in addressing the problem of political prisoners, and  the so-called "caviar diplomacy"  by the Azerbaijani authorities.

NCDF considers wrong  the approach of some international organizations and democratic states expecting a fair trial in the case of  “political prisoners.”

The statement further stated that the Azerbaijani authorities  use political arrests not only to suppress calls for freedom, but also turn it into a political bargaining with the international organizations.  This is despite  the fact  throughout the world  in the  cases  of political prisoners  the opinion of respectable human rights organizations  are taken into account, in particular Amnesty International, and   are unconditionally eliminated.

"We  demand from the Azerbaijani authorities to put an end to arbitrariness , to execute the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights in respect of citizens arrested for political reasons, and the immediate release Ilgar Mammadov , Tofig Yagublu , Gurban Mammadov, Yadigar Sadigova , Rashad Hasanov, Rashadata Akhundov, Zaur Gurbanly , Ilkin Rustamzade , Bakhtiyar Guliyev , Mamed Azizov, Shahin Novruzlu , Uzeyir Mammadov , Nijat Aliyev, Taleh Bagirzade , Avaz Zeynalli , Nemat Panahli , Hilal Mamedov , Sardar Alibeili , Parviz Hashimli , Ilham Amiraslanov , Rahib Hajiyev , Rasul Mursalova, and all other political prisoners, "  reads the  statement of the NCDF. —06D--