Foreign diplomats in Azerbaijan had a meeting with convicted human rights activist Iskenderov

On December, 13, representatives of the embassies of Great Britain, France and Belgium and members of the Mission of European Union in Azerbaijan visited human rights activist Vidadi Iskenderov, Head of non-governmental organization "Aid to Protection of Democracy", in colony No 14 of Baku.

Earlier, the "Caucasian Knot" reported that on August, 27, Geichai district court of Azerbaijan sentenced Vidadi Iskenderov to three years of custody for accusation of unlawful interference with the election process at the parliamentary election of November, 7, 2010. On November, 2, Shekinsky appellate court brought a standing judgment on the verdict.

During his talk to the diplomats on December, 13, Vidadi Iskenderov declared a "fabricated and politically motivated origin of his case". The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent received this information from the convict's brother Ogtai Iskenderov, Head of non-governmental organization "Aid to Protection of Democracy", who added that Vidadi also mentioned that he ran for deputy at the election of 2010 and exposed forgery. However, a criminal case was initiated against him for accusation of interference with the election process.

Vidadi Iskenderov also told the diplomats that he first underwent administrative arrest in connection with meetings of civil movement for democracy of the "Public Chamber" (CMDPC) on April, 2, and April, 17, but then a criminal charge was brought against him. According to Iskenderov, during the investigation period he experienced physical and moral pressure. Iskenderov also said that he was "being prosecuted for his active social and political work and disclosing facts of corruption within higher level". The human rights activist emphasized that in his pre-election speech on Public TV he criticized Prosecutor General Zakir Garalov and the Minister of Transport Ziya Mamedov.

The representatives of the embassies inquired about Vidadi's prison conditions in the colony, Ogtai Iskenderov said.

The embassies and EU Mission confirmed the fact of visiting Vidadi Iskenderov in the colony. However, the diplomats abstained from political or legal estimation of Iskenderov's case.