Union for Freedom to Political Prisoners of Azerbaijan Calls for Release of All Political Prisoners

Baku / 1/19/19 / Turan: The Union for Freedom to the Political Prisoners of Azerbaijan called on the country's authorities to release all political prisoners. This was stated by the Union.

"The hope of subsiding political repression after the release of a number of human rights defenders and journalists in the spring of 2016 did not come true. The regime"s repressions not only cease, but become even more brutal and sophisticated. Torture after arrest during the investigation was complemented by torture after sentencing. Death from torture in Azerbaijan is the most common phenomenon. And the soldiers tortured to death in the Tartar region are a clear confirmation of this," the statement says.

Since 2016, the authorities have begun to use a new form of practically killing political prisoners: at the end of their previous sentences on falsified charges, they began to face new charges of crimes they never did. However, the hunger strike announced by Mehman Huseynov on December 26, 2018 in response to the new falsified accusation blew up the long-term public patience. Fighters for the freedom and independence of Azerbaijan, both in prisons and beyond, spoke out against the suppression of the rights and freedoms of citizens.

These voices were heard outside the country. "The resolution adopted by the European Parliament on the Case of Mehman Huseynov in Azerbaijan, adopted on January 17, 2019, is a clear indication of the growing opposition of the European democratic community to the dictatorship established in Azerbaijan," the statement reads.

The conclusion between the EU and Azerbaijan of the Comprehensive Agreement is questionable, the statement further reads.

Activists of the civil society of Azerbaijan and all fighters for democracy both inside and outside the country need to mobilize forces and put a clear condition: freedom for all 150 political prisoners, including Muslim Unity members convicted for long periods and veterans of the Karabakh war sentenced to life for almost 25 years. "If these citizens who passed through the most severe tests do not receive freedom before Novruz Holiday, resistance to the regime should be strengthened. And this condition should be known and supported by all international organizations including the OSCE, CE, EU and UN," the statement concluded.

The document was signed by Leyla Yunus, director of the Institute for Peace and Democracy, Elshan Hasanov, head of the Center for Monitoring Political Prisoners, Eldaniz Guliyev, head of the Azerbaijani Intellectuals Movement, and Hilal Mammadov, Editor-in-Chief of the Tolyshi Sado newspaper. -06D--