Azerbaijani rights defender Leyla Yunus sets up Centre for Resisting Repressions

Today, Leyla Yunus, Director of the Institute for Peace and Democracy (IPD), has announced the creation of the Centre for Resisting Repressions under her Institute.

The Azerbaijani human rights movement needs new strategy and tactics in fighting for liberation of political prisoners; therefore we need to pass over from requests and exhortations "to a resolute demand of fulfilment of our legitimate claims," Leyla Yunus said at a press conference in Baku.

She gave an example of defenders' wrong tactics in "a refusal to appeal to international community and illusions that it is possible to solve the problem of political prisoners inside the country."

Thus, according to her story, on May 21, in Baku, at the meeting of rights defenders with Thorbjorn Jagland, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, he was handed over a list of only 30 political prisoners, while their total number in the country is 130.

"We must abandon this compromising tactics," the IPM Director believes; in her opinion, the civil society "should resolutely demand from the authorities to respect human rights and freedoms."

See earlier reports: Azerbaijani Prosecutor's Office warns Leyla Yunus about possible arrest for failure to appear before investigator, In Baku, oppositionists and journalists tell French President about human rights violations in Azerbaijan, Azerbaijani law enforcers ignore the demand to return foreign passport to Leyla Yunus, says the lawyer.