Rapporteur on Azerbaijan presented a preliminary list of political prisoners of the country

Strasbourg / 01/23/19 / Turan: Council of Europe Rapporteur on Political Prisoners in Azerbaijan Torhildur Varsdottir (Iceland) submitted to the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights PACE submitted a preliminary memorandum on political prisoners in Azerbaijan on 22 January.

This multipage document contains an analysis and assessment of the situation, an analysis of the problem of political prisoners and a list of 130 names that are supposedly political prisoners.In the introductory part, the speaker recalls that this problem caused concern even when Azerbaijan joined the Council of Europe in 2001.

PACE, in its resolution 1272 (2002) on political prisoners in Azerbaijan, confirmed that no one can be imprisoned for political reasons.In resolution 1359 (2004), the Assembly called on the government of Azerbaijan to immediately release political prisoners.In 2005, the Assembly adopted resolution 1457 and recommendation 1711 on political prisoners in Azerbaijan.

Resolution 1750 (2010) on the functioning of democratic institutions in Azerbaijan also dealt with this problem.

Most recently, in 2017, the Assembly addressed the issue in resolution 2184 on the functioning of democratic institutions in Azerbaijan, expressing concern about the prosecutions and detentions of NGO leaders, human rights activists, political activists, journalists, bloggers and lawyers.

In resolution 2185, the PACE called on Azerbaijan to release human rights defenders, journalists, civil and political activists convicted for political reasons.

In 2013, the Strasser report on political prisoners in Azerbaijan was prepared, but the resolution on this matter failed. Later, the report of the Independent Investigation Authority described how the corruption mechanism was used in PACE to block the Strasser report.

"Despite this, the Legal Affairs and Human Rights Committee, and I personally take this report as the source of information," said Varsdottir.

The speaker also recalls that independent experts on the instructions of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe developed the definition of "political prisoner" back in 2001.

Armenia and Azerbaijan, upon accession by the Council of Europe, supported this definition of independent experts. Since then, the definition of "political prisoner" has been systematically applied by the Assembly and beyond.

Further, the Memorandum provides a brief description of the definition of "political prisoner" and refers to the lists of human rights defenders of persons of this category.

Varsdottir notes that she will prepare her list, having received comments from the Azerbaijani authorities on each case.

The speaker notes that the cases of Mehman Huseynov, Afgan Mukhtarly and several other journalists and bloggers are "significant" and are not in doubt.A large group of political prisoners includes religious activists led by Tal Baghirzade from the Muslim Unity movement.

The report describes the operation in Nardaran in 2015, when dozens of believers werearrested, and several people were killed. All the arrested were subject to cruel torture. Dozens of people were also arrested, gathered in front of the Sabunchu police, where they kept Nardaran residents.

Subsequently, many of them were sentenced to long terms, although independent sources claim that their guilt was not proven.

Among the believers, there are also several social network activists convicted on charges of extremism and inciting hatred.

A large group of alleged political prisoners is activists of opposition parties convicted for participating and organizing mass protests, publishing criticisms. However, they were condemned on charges of hooliganism, drug possession, etc.

Noteworthy are the affairs of youth activists: Giyas Ibrahimov, Bayram Mamedov, Elgiz Gahraman, Salekh Rustamov and others.

The report further speaks of those convicted of the events in Ismayilli, Siyazan, Mingachevir, and Guba.

The prosecutor of Zardob region, Rufat Safarov, convicted for criticizing the authorities, as well as ex-Minister of Health Ali Insanov, is mentioned among former state officials.

In conclusion, the speaker notes that there are a large number of people in Azerbaijan who can be considered political prisoners and whose fate should be considered by PACE.

"I would like to confirm my position that the Azerbaijani authorities should be given the opportunity to present their views on these cases.

In order to receive additional information on the issues presented in this memorandum, I would like to hold hearings with experts at a committee meeting and make an introductory visit to Azerbaijan,"the memorandum concluded. -02D-