AI waits for Azerbaijan's answer to demand to release Fatullaev

Azerbaijan has failed to submit an appeal against the decision of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) prescribing to release journalist Einullah Fatullaev. The independent international organization Amnesty International (AI) demands from the Azerbaijani authorities to enforce the ECtHR decision.

On June 3, the AI held a picket opposite the building of Azerbaijani embassy. The picketers demanded to release Einullah Fatullaev.

"Together with our colleagues in other countries we went out to Azerbaijani embassies with a demand to immediately release the journalist - prisoner of conscience. We assert that the court decisions in his relation were politicized. Under the decision of the ECtHR he should be released and receive compensation. At present, Azerbaijan has failed to lodge the appeal. And according to the rules, the decision should be enforced within three months after being made," said Sergey Nikitin, the AI head in Russia.

As reported by Natalia Sergeeva, press secretary of the organization, the AI activists and supporters hold this sort of actions several times every month. "People always react to our actions differently. When we held a picket against death penalty at the embassy of Belarus, many people seemed to know about the topic. And now, when we went out to defend the freedom of speech in Azerbaijan, almost nobody stops to read our posters."