O.Gyulalyev: Since the beginning of the year the number of political prisoners in Azerbaijan reached 40 people

Repression against political and civil society activists, journalists and others involved in the protests in defense of their rights increased in Azerbaijan, said Oktay Gyulalyev, the coordinator of social alliance "Azerbaijan has no political prisoners" at the press conference  in the Institute for Reporters Freedom and Safety (IRFS.

According to him, since the beginning of the year the number of  political prisoners in Azerbaijan  reached 40 people. They are protesters of the action in the "Bina" Mall, arrested on Ismayilli events, including the head of the REAL Movement, Ilgar Mammadov, and deputy chairman of "Musavat" party,  Tofig Yagublu,  NIDA Movement  activists, and  believers.

In addition, the authorities  have tightened penalties for participating in rallies up  to  two months of administrative detention, establish criminal penalties for defamation on the Internet.

Gyulalyev also believes that the amnesty, the adoption of which is expected on May 7, will not meet the  expectations. This act does not solve the problem of political prisoners. Moreover,  charges against the arrested on Ismayilli events have been so toughened , that they are not under amnesty, said Gyulalyev.

Chief of staff of the party "Musavat", Arif Hajily, noted that the authorities intensify repression and want to isolate those who have authority, influence and capable of leading the nation. "In this way, they want to protect their power. For this they destroy the nation's gene pool. Many talented young people do not see their future in Azerbaijan and leave the country," said Hajily.

However, Hajily believes that the arrests of activists are for intimidating  a whole society and therefore society has to protest against the repression. 

The event was attended by relatives of political prisoners.

So, the mothers of the members of a "Sayid Dadashbeyli Group" reported that their children had been convicted only on concocted charges. At the same time, they expressed regret that despite the recognition  them political prisoners by  the members of the group PACE rapporteur Christoph Strasser, PACE  did not adopt the resolution.

One of the participants of the meeting  pointed out the injustice of the arrest of a war veteran, Orudj Mammadov, who was one of those who collected the bodies of the victims of Khojaly residents, risking his life. Mammadov was convicted after the presidential election in 2003 for taking part in the protest rally. However, a year and a half  ago, he was again arrested on trumped-up charges, and sentenced to 8.5 years in prison on charges of fraud.

Mother of Zaur Gurbanly,  the  arrested activist of NIDA Movement, pointed to the groundlessness of the charges against all seven activists arrested in the case. She said she is proud of her son, and  after his arrest she joined the NIDA Movement. In her view,  the authorities will not be able to suppress the resistance of the society against the injustice and tyranny by arrests.

Following the debate,  a statement  was adopted calling on the authorities to release all political prisoners.—06С--