Washington event: Journalists, human rights defenders, call for immediate release of Mehman Huseynov

A group of journalists and human rights defenders in the U.S. and Europe join the rest of the world in urging Azerbaijan to release imprisoned blogger Mehman Huseynov immediately and unconditionally.

"Azerbaijan authorities know no limits when it comes to silencing government critics," Thomas Melia, currently serves as Washington Director at PEN America, said in Washington on Thursday, Jan 10.

Huseynov has been serving a 2-year prison sentence after he was prosecuted for defaming an entire police station in Baku, because he publicized abuse he"d suffered there. On December 26, two months before his prison term was to end, the authorities brought new, spurious charges, claiming Huseynov resisted and physically assaulted a guard. If convicted, he could face seven more years in prison.

Speaking at a press conference at the Washington Press Club, Melia, former deputy assistant secretary of State in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, said that new charges against the blogger just weeks before his release date are "a cruel step by Azerbaijani authorities to punish him for his critical journalism."

"The escalation of legal harassment against Mr. Huseynov is an inhumane step that perfectly embodies the calculated crackdown against dissenting voices in Azerbaijan."

Mehman's brother Emin Huseynov has not been able to speak with him since last Friday. "All communications with Mehman, including with his lawyers, are closely monitored," Huseynov, director of the Azerbaijani Institute for Reporter"s Freedom and Safety, said.

According to him, Azerbaijan authorities have begun to pressure Mehman's family to end the hunger strike.

"The world needs to pay attention to how Azerbaijan is treating Mehman," added Alex Raufoglu, a journalist, and Azerbaijan country specialist for Amnesty International USA. "Azerbaijan has a pattern of targeting truth tellers," he added.

In his speech, Amnesty International's Daniel Balson, added that Azerbaijan "can't pretend to be a serious partner while it throws people in jail for peacefully speaking out."

Amnesty urges Azerbaijani government to take all necessary steps to ensure that the new trumped-up charges against Huseynov are dropped and that he is immediately and unconditionally released, as he has been detained solely for peacefully exercising his right to freedom of expression.

In her speech, Sevinj Osmanqizi of Women's Media Watch Azerbaijan, drew attention to the fact that the case of Huseynov has caused a strong reaction both internationally and locally.

After Huseynov announced his hunger strike, she aded, a group of youth activists organized several unauthorized marches in Baku over the last few days in support of the blogger. Several members of the opposition Musavat party and other political activists have joined a hunger strike in support of Huseynov.

The event called on the U.S. government to take stronger stand in defending Mehman Huseynov, including considering sanctions against Azerbaijani officials involved in his case.

Raufoglu.A