In Azerbaijan, convicted oppositional activists go on hunger strike

Today, in Azerbaijan, at penal institutions, convicted oppositional activists recognized by the international human rights organization "Amnesty International" as "prisoners of conscience", went on a hunger strike demanding their release. This was reported by Gyulaga Aslanly, Secretary of the Coordinating Council (CC) of the Civil Movement for Democracy "Public Chamber" (CMDPC).

Earlier, the prisoners announced their intention to go on a hunger strike in their letter sent to the "Public Chamber".

According to Gyulaga Aslanly, at different penal institutions, 12 out of 13 remaining in custody "prisoners of conscience" take part in the protest action.

They are: Arif Gadjily, Tural Abbasly, Akhad Mamedli, Rufat Gadjibeili, members of the "Musavat" Party, Shakhin Gasanli, Sakhib Kerimov, Mukhammed Medjidli, Babek Gasanov, Elnur Medjidli, Zulfugar Eivazly, activists of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA), and non-partisans Ulvi Guliev and Vidadi Iskenderov.

Only a young activist Bakhtiyar Gadjiev did not join the protest action. The local media disseminated his statement, in which the activist stated that he saw no sense in the hunger strike.

"I respect the decision of the other 'prisoners of conscience' to hold a hunger strike. However, my decision not to participate in the hunger strike should also be respected. I believe that hunger strikes represent an exhausted method of influence in Azerbaijan. Hunger strikes of recent years show that they had not achieved their goals," the website "mediaforum.az" quotes Bakhtiyar Gadjiev as saying.

Furthermore, according to Bakhtiyar Gadjiev, holding a hunger strike in anticipation of the song contest "Eurovision 2012", which is to be held in Baku on May 22-26, can be have an ambiguous effect in the society. "It may seem that 'the prisoners of conscience' hoped to their release in connection with the song contest, and now, having lost hope, they have resorted to a hunger strike," continues Bakhtiyar Gadjiev.

At the same time, the activist emphasizes that his participation in the hunger strike could negatively affect the activities of individuals and institutions, for a long time making efforts to defend his rights.

The CMDPC also believes that "the prisoners of conscience" should not go on a hunger strike.

"We have called 'the prisoners of conscience' not to go on a hunger strike. Instead, members of the 'Public Chamber' themselves intend to go on a hunger strike. We plan to start a hunger strike on May 16 at the headquarters of the 'Musavat' Party," told Gyulaga Aslanly, Secretary of the CC of the CMDPC, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

He has added that the CMDPC is preparing the second appeal to "the prisoners of conscience" asking to stop their hunger strike.

Besides, the "Public Chamber" is going to hold a rally in Baku on May 19, with release of "the prisoners of conscience" among the demands of the rally.

Mustapha Gajibeili, another member of the CMDPC, the brother of Arif Gajibeili, "the prisoner of conscience", Chief of the office of party "Musavat" Party, has also confirmed that the activists began their hunger strike in prisons. According to him, besides their personal release, "the prisoners of conscience" demand to completely solve the problem of political prisoners and to ensure freedom of assembly and expression in the country.

However, the Penitentiary Service of Azerbaijan has not yet confirmed the information about the hunger strike. A staff member of the Public Relations Division of the Penitentiary Service of Azerbaijan said that the prisoners should inform the administration of penal institutions on their hunger strike.

"At present, we do not have such information. We need time to clarify it," stated the source.