Azerbaijani human rights activists call Ilham Aliev to release all political prisoners

Today, the Monitoring Group of Human Rights Organizations of Azerbaijan (MGHROA) has held a roundtable at the Media Centre dated to the Day of Political Prisoners marked on October 30. The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports that the participants of the event a meeting have regretfully ascertained that, despite Azerbaijani membership in the Council of Europe (CE), the problem of political prisoners remains topical in the country.

According to the MGHROA, as of the moment of Azerbaijan's accession to the СЕ, the count of political prisoners was 716.

"Today, 25 political prisoners are still in Azerbaijani prisons. We call authorities to liberate them and welcome the New Year free of political prisoners," said Novella Dzhafaroglu, head of the Dilyara Alieva Society in Defence of Women's Rights.

In Ms Dzhafaroglu's opinion, because of neglect of human rights Azerbaijan "faces today criticism of the world community."

According to her story, after 1993, 25 political prisoners died in Azerbaijani prisons.

"Contrary to denial by country's authorities of political prisoners, the problem exists, and this is a shame for Azerbaijan," said Saida Godzhamanly, head of the Bureau for Observance of Human rights and Legality.