A new list of political prisoners including 94 people is published

Working Group  of Civil Society of Azerbaijan released a new single list of political prisoners including 94 people. Among them, 6 journalists and bloggers, two publicists, a human rights activist, 5 youth activists, members of political parties 5, 61 - believer and three life convicts.

In general, the list of 139 persons concerned; 45 of them  are identified as potential political prisoners and are included in "being monitored".

The Working Party stresses that in fact the number of political prisoners is significantly more.

"However, the reaction media in the country causes many to refrain from publicizing their cases. Another problem is not legal awareness, lack of lawyers. Especially bad situation is in regions, and  do not have the right to protect mechanisms," stated in the report of the Working Group.

In compiling the list of the authors were guided by the criteria of the PACE resolution N1900. On October 3, 2012 PACE adopted a resolution in which it identified five criteria for the concept of "political prisoner": if the detention is carried out directly in violation of one of the fundamental guarantees set out in the European Convention on human Rights and its protocols; if the decision on custody issued for political reasons without connection with a criminal offense; If for political reasons, the duration of detention is not proportional to the crime; If for political reasons a person is detained in a discriminatory manner in comparison with the other; if the detention is the result of proceedings which were unfair because of the political motives of the authorities.

The new list was signed by more than 20 human rights activists, NGO leaders and lawyers. -06D-