New generation of prisoners-hostages is created, Jamil Hasanli

Q: As you know, 14 political prisoners were released as a result of order on pardon on 17 March. In addition, the Attorney General filed a protest with the severity of penalties against Intigam Aliyev.

A. Recently several political prisoners and prisoners of conscience have been released. Those who regard it as a manifestation of humanity, need to know that these people were not supposed to be in custody, should not have been subjected to so many tortures and injustice. It was lawlessness against these people differing by their civil position,   social and political activity and honor, and lawsuits with false accusations were filed against them.

 In fact, according to the current Criminal Code of the country, the representatives of the police, prosecutors, the judiciary and the security system who deprived the people of their freedom on false charges must be brought to justice. Intigam Aliyev, who was arrested on trumped up charges, is one of the honest people, and he should be released. I attended his hearings; in fact, there is not any legal basis for his arrest. However, the problem cannot be solved only by the release of Intigam Aliyev.  All political prisoners must be released, and the new wave of arrests must not be repeated. Frankly, by such half-hearted steps the Azerbaijani authorities are trying to release not political prisoners, but themselves.  Leyla Yunus have been released from prison under international pressure, but the punishment has not been lifted, and they have been deprived of the right to an effective treatment.  A journalist Rauf Mirkadyrov accused on absurd charges of "treason» has not been completely released from punishment.

Q: This, by the way, was reflected in the statements of international organizations and a number of the leading states in connection with the decree of pardon.

A: That is right. We said earlier that the pardon that does not cover Khadija, Ilgar, Ilkin Rustamzade, and other prisoners who had been arrested on trumped up charges, cannot remove from the agenda the issue of political prisoners. If the talk is about the “humanism” demonstrated by the president on the threshold of an important visit, then it casts doubt on the success of this visit, without the release of Khadija Ismayilova , who was arrested for the study of the family business  of the head of state and corrupt actions of other senior officials. The West, in particular,  America, very badly perceived  the arrest of a journalist for criticizing the officials.  The case of Khadija is no longer  the case of an internal affair of Azerbaijan, it has acquired an international character. If the Azerbaijani authorities do not want further exposure and distrust,  they must release Khadija, Ilgar, and all remaining political prisoners. To do this there are all the political and legal grounds.

Q: What are these  grounds?

A: In fact, after the exposure of the former Minister of National Security (MNS) all victims of repression, honest, conscientious people who were arrested on false charges, were to be released. It seems that because this step was not done,   behind these arrests is not the MNS, but Ilham Aliyev himself.  There is not any other explanation to the fact that Ilgar Mammadov, in respect of which the European Court has repeatedly adjudicated, is  illegally  held in prison. These people have been arrested on direct orders from  the top, and their release by the same instruction from the top means the collapse of the judicial system. Prisoners accused under the same articles, convicted in the same courtroom  by the  very identical verdict  are not released simultaneously. Let  them explain why Ilkin Rustamzade has not been released, what part  of the Article under which he was convicted is heavier than that of liberated young men from NIDA Movement.  Is not his stay in prison a proof that  the pardon itself is politically motivated?  Ilkin is the most patriotic, talented and loyal to his ideas youth representative. For example, Abdul Abilov, who was planted the drugs, and as a result he was sentenced to 5.5 years  of  imprisonment. Did his   arrest and slander really scare someone?

A student-historian Elvin Abdullayev, who was also arrested on fabricated charges of drug, on  the day of his arrest passed examinations perfectly well, but he was not able to share the joy with his family, as security agencies and the police withdrew from his pocket in the street drugs. Serious Crimes Court did not investigate the details of the fraudulent charges, conferred on the legal basis to it, and  sentenced a talented young man to six years in  prison. A member of Musavat party  Faraj Kerimli, blogger Rashad Ramazanov, a lawyer Aliabbas Rustamov, as well as a political prisoner Sayid Dadashbeyli with the greatest experience, and others has been convicted on absurd, frivolous, and  false charges. This is the essence and reality of the legal state which Ilham Aliyev wants to build.

Q: How do you assess the fact that the pardon did not touch the  PFPA members?

A: To date up to ten PPFA members  are in detention for political reasons. Almost half of them are persons belonging to the party leadership. APFP deputy chairman Fuad Gahramanli, Advisor to the Chairman of the party Mammad Ibrahim, the Board  members Seymour Hazy and Asif Yusifli,  and other activists of the party. Fuad  Gahramanli was the main  organizer of the rallies held in support of political prisoners. His arrest is connected just with this fact, however, the investigating  organs officially claimed that he was arrested for the status he had written. This  is aggression against freedom of expression,  and violence against PFPA. As for Seymour Hazy, at the trial it became clear as the bright day, what dirty tricks the police used to arrest Seymour Hazy. A lawyer Adil Ismayilov presented the fact of falsification of the case. However, nothing has changed, as it was a political order. The veterans of the Karabakh war and Asif Yusifli and  Gadir Hudabahshiev  are in detention only because they are members of the PFPA. How can we turn a blind eye to this. The leading political party of the country has  become a target of repression. Mr. Ilham Aliyev is using state resources against his opponents. The police, security agencies, prosecutors and courts use their opportunities, arresting the party leadership on false charges. The infamous trial  in the case of Mammad  Ibrahim  is a clear evidence of this. With regard to the chairman of the party, the situation is even more complicated.

Q:  Do you mean Ali Kerimli, the chairman of the Popular Front Party?

A: Yes, because for eight years,  on far-fetched and ridiculous charges  he has been deprived of  his foreign passport. The corresponding decision was made by the European Court, but until now the  authorities of Azerbaijan have not satisfied  the decision. It has only one name - political pressure and the use by  the governing person  all state resources against the opposition.  You see, not only members of the PPFA, but  even those who put “like” to the written by Ali Kerimli in social networks are summoned  to police. Each Police Department  has set up a group, exploring who clicks “like”.  Nobody will be surprised  if  an Article will be added to the Criminal Code  regarding those who clicks “like” to the statuses written by Ali Kerimli. The repression carried out by the Azerbaijani authorities in a society is experiencing a period of prosperity. Surveillance in social networks, as well as the mass persecution of activists of the virtual world,  is a visual confirmation.

Q: Why  are ignored  the decisions of the European Court?

A: Failure to comply with the international obligations of the European Court decisions create a great distrust to  the country,  and first of all, to the authorities. A bright example is the case of Ilgar Mamedov. Three years ago, the decision was made in respect of Ali Insanov, but so far it has not done. Imagine that a PhD, Professor Ali Insanov has been forced to spend  his 60, 65 and 70 anniversaries in prison. This  is lack of respect for the international obligations of the Human Rights Court and the right of a citizen. To extend the range of political prisoners  the power uses dirty tricks, and invents new forms.

Q: What do you  mean?

A: A new generation of prisoners –hostages is being created. Children and relatives of those  whom the authorities  cannot reach are arrested on trumped up charges. They  become hostages. At the time, even the Stalinist machine of repression  did not use  such  vile practices. Close relatives of Ganimat Zahid, the chief editor of the program "Azerbaijan Saati" and "Azadlig" newspaper, brother-in-law of Emin Milli , the head of  "Meydan.tv" , two brothers of Gunel Mevlut , the employee of the  same media structure, brother-in law of  the chairman of Azerbaijan Popular Front Party Ali Kerimli, Murad Abilov, brother of the employee  of  "Azerbaijan Saati" and "Azadlig" newspaper Natik Abilov, they can be considered as prisoners- hostages. These innocent people have been convicted  for their close relatives, are punished for their  civil position and media activity of their loved ones.  A network of political prisoners  of  Aliyev regime is quite wide, including Islamists,  believers,  and political prisoners.

Q: At the present, it seems,  that religious part of the political prisoners comprises the majority.

A: That is right. Haji Movsum, Haji Abgyul, a number of Islamists has for a long time become the target of  vain accusations, unjust sentences. Such artificially concocted Nardaran operation further expanded the range of political prisoners Islamists. The Interior Ministry  trying to fear the society,  just  after the collapse of the MNS has caused the deaths of two policemen and six civilians.  The operation ended by the  arrest  of  Thale Bagirzade and the  management of the Islamic Unity Movement as a whole. After  the Nardaran operation all  Islamists prisoners were subjected to the most brutal torture  in  the course of investigation. It is not a secret  that Haji Tale was beaten, and his nose was broken during the torture. The fact that for a long time  they were not allowed to lawyers, denied meeting with families, is a  violation of the most elementary rights of these people, and  is a sufficient basis for the recognition of them as political prisoners.  There is still a problem of political prisoners  in our country. I think that the authorities should find the strength, and release these innocent people. Otherwise, this problem will continue to undermine the international credibility and the trust of citizens, the trust which  has dropped to the critical edge.