Secretary General of the Council of Europe Condemned the Presentation of New Charge against Ilgar Mamedov

Secretary General of the Council of Europe Thorbjorn Yangland expressed concern and disappointment with the presentation of new criminal charges to the head of the civil movement "Republican Alternative» (ReAl) Ilgar Mamedov.

Recall that Mamedov was arrested on 4 February 2013 in connection with the events in Ismailly January 23-24. He was charged under articles 233 (organization of actions aimed at disturbing public order, or participation in them) and 315.2 (resistance to authority with violence) of the Criminal Code.

However, on May 1 Article 233 was replaced by Article 220.1 (organization of mass disorders accompanied by violence and pogroms), which defines a more severe punishment - up to 12 years in prison.

In this regard, on May 3 Yangland made a special statement.

"Despite the calls of the international community for the release of Ilgar Mamedov, the Azerbaijani authorities have put forward a new charge against him. This is particularly disappointing and disturbing in the light of Azerbaijan's chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, scheduled to start in May 2014.

The representative of the Council of Europe in Baku in February was not admitted to the primary trial of Ilgar Mamedov, and such visits were also not allowed to ambassadors of the European Council, who recently visited Azerbaijan. I urge the Azerbaijani authorities to engage in dialogue with the international community, " is said in the statement by Yangland.

This is the third Secretary General of the Council of Europe statement on the case of Mamedov after his arrest. In addition, Yangland twice talked on the phone to the lawyers of Mamedov.

Recall that Mamedov is also a director of the Baku School of Political Studies of the Council of Europe. -06D -