Baku Mayoralty sanctions youth protest rally to be held on March 17

On March 17, in Baku, the Committee for Youth Protection (CYP), uniting the leading oppositional and independent youth organizations in Azerbaijan, will hold a rally demanding to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, release political prisoners and eliminate corruption. The Baku Mayoralty sanctioned the action.

It is expected that the rally, which will be held under the slogans reading: "Freedom to Karabakh!", "Freedom to political prisoners!", and "No bribes!" will gather about 1500-2000 young people.

The organizers of the rally are dissatisfied with the policy of the Azerbaijani authorities on settling of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

"We urge the authorities to clarity the issue. For many years, they feed the people with promises to return the occupied lands; however, there are no results," said Abulfaz Gurbanly, another member of the CYP.

Another demand of the protestors is release political prisoners.

Young people also point to the dominance of corruption. "There is no sphere in Azerbaijan, which would be not covered by corruption and bribery. As long as the problems are not solved, the natural resources of Azerbaijan will be accumulated in hands of a small number of people, and, at the same time, the people will always live in poverty," continued Abulfaz Gurbanly.