Azerbaijani public figures urge convicted journalist Fatullaev to stop hunger strike

A group of journalists, human rights activists and intellectuals - members of the Committee in Defence of Freedom of Expression - believe that the hunger strike announced by Einullah Fatullaev, editor-in-chief of the newspaper "Real Azerbaijan", kept at the Baku SIZO (pre-trial prison), has already caused quite a broad public resonance.

In this regard, the authors of the appeal ask the journalist to stop his hunger strike and note that after he had started his action the authorities promised that the issue of enforcement of the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) on Fatullaev's release would be considered at an extraordinary session of the Plenum of the Supreme Court.

Further, the members of the Committee quote the ECtHR judge from Azerbaijan Khanlar Gadjiev, who said that "nobody, the authorities of Azerbaijan inclusive, doubts that decisions of the ECtHR shall be enforced."

The authors stress that Fatullaev's case is right and hope that the authorities will not object and take steps to restore the justice.

The appeal was signed by the members of the Committee - human rights defenders Arzu Abdullaeva, Zardusht Alizade, Ilgar Ibrahimoglu, Emin Guseinov, Deputy Panakh Gusein, political scientist Eldar Namazov, lawyers Isakhan Ashurov and Elchin Sadygov, and a large group of journalists.

In his turn, Elchin Sadygov, the journalist's advocate lawyer told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that Fatullaev had not yet decided to stop his hunger strike. According to Sadygov, he and another lawyer - Isakhan Ashurov - planned to visit Fatullaev today to learn about his future actions. According to Mr Sadygov, the journalist looks weak; although he has no serious health complaints.

Meanwhile, another group of Azerbaijani human rights activists have addressed President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliev seeking his help in enforcing the decision of the ECtHR on immediate release of Fatullaev from custody.

This step, as the authors of the appeal believe, could be only to Azerbaijan's benefit in terms of normal perception in Europe of parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan, deeper relations between Azerbaijan and Council of Europe and implementation of the European Union's programme of Eastern Partnership.

The appeal was signed by rights defenders Novella Jafaroglu, Arzu Abdullaeva, Said Godzhamanly, Saadat Bananyarly and Avaz Gasanov.

So far, the Administration of the President gave no comment on the appeal.

Fatullaev is on hunger strike since October 19. In solidarity with him, since October 20, a group of colleagues holds a solidarity hunger strike, for several days each, at the headquarters of the "Musavat" Party.

As reported by one of them - columnist Shakhvalyad Chobanoglu, - they replace each other in their solidarity hunger strike.

Thus, the action was started and held for three days by Chobanoglu, Gan Turaly and Elchin Gasanov. On Monday, they were replaced by Samir Kazymly, a worker from the newspaper "Eni Musavat", Gabil Zimistanoglu, an employee of the "Azadlyg", and journalist Seimur Baidzhan. A youth activist Emin Akhundov also joined them.

As reported by Mr Chobanoglu, the protesters have no health problems.