Public Alliance of Political Prisoners Demands Amirli's Release

Baku / 25.07.17 / Turan: Public Alliance Azerbaijan without Political Prisoners demanded the release of the Financial Director of the newspaper Azadlyg Faig Amirov and compensation for his illegal detention.

"We former political prisoners consider the arrest of Amirli a continuation of repressions against PFPA and pressure on the free press," the statement of the alliance says.

The statement notes that the Financial Director of the opposition newspaper Azadlyg, Faig Amirli, was sentenced by the Sabail District Court to 3.3 years of imprisonment and a fine of 39,000 manat.

At the time of Amirli's arrest on August 22, 2016, charges were brought against him under articles 283.2.2 (actions aimed at incitement of national, racial or religious hatred in the media) and 168.1 (creation of a group carrying out activities under the pretext of spreading religious confessions, etc.) of the Criminal Code. But then the main emphasis was made on the financial activities of the newspaper Azadlyg.

On April 17, 2017, new charges were brought against him under article 213.1 (non-payment of taxes) and article 308 (official abuse).

However, as a result of the preliminary investigation, articles 168.1 and 308 were dropped. That is, they first arrested him and afterwards began to justify the illegal detention.

The process of arrest, search, and presentation of the prosecution took place with gross violations of the procedural code.

During the trial, the lawyer's petitions were rejected, including the state of health, and he was deprived of necessary medical assistance. On the severe physical condition of Amirov, the alliance submitted a medical report to PACE Rapporteur Alain Destexhe.

With regard to Amirli, the articles of the European Convention on Human Rights were violated:

Article 1. Obligation to respect human rights

Article 6. Right to a fair trial

Article 7. Punishment solely on the basis of the law

Article 13. Right to an effective remedy

The alliance reports that to date there are 14 journalists, bloggers and writers on the list of political prisoners. -0----