PROTEST ACTION IN FRONT OF AZERI EMBASSY IN LONDON

    Around 60 people gathered opposite the Azerbaijan embassy in London at midday on Thursday 3 June for a demonstration organised by Amnesty International UK, ARTICLE 19, English PEN and Index on Censorship to call for the immediate and unconditional release of imprisoned Azerbaijani journalist Eynulla Fatullayev. For an hour, demonstrators faced the embassy and sent their message loud and clear, calling (in both English and Azeri) for freedom for Eynulla Fatullayev. Eynulla and his family had sent messages of thanks to express their gratitude to everyone who participated in the action. Shortly before 1pm a delegation - Ruth Dawson, AIUK; Agnes Callamard, ARTICLE 19; Eva Hoffman, English PEN; Emily Butselaar, Index on Censorship - handed a letter in to the embassy, signed by the heads of the four organisations together with more than 80 renowned literary professionals, asking the Azerbaijani Ambassador to communicate our concerns and requests regarding the case of Eynulla Fatullayev to the relevant authorities in Azerbaijan. A representative of the embassy accepted the letter and told the delegation that the Ambassador would pass on the concerns raised to the relevant authorities in Azerbaijan, and that we could definitely expect a response.