Azerbaijan campaigns in defence of Gasan Guseinli

A group of Azerbaijani civil society activists has announced a start of an international campaign in defence of the rights of Gasan Guseinli from the city of Ganja (Gandzha), the head of the Educational Centre "Intellectual Citizen", who was sentenced to 6 years of imprisonment.

"We've sent an appeal to the European Youth Forum (EYF), stating that the city of Ganja, which was announced by the EYF the 2016 European Youth Capital, the leader of the public organization engaged in educating the local youth was illegally convicted," said Rasul Djafarov, the head of the Society of Legal Defence and Education.

Rasul Djafarov has noted that Guseinli for 17 years was engaged in promoting knowledge and education among young people. The projects of his NGO were supported by the US National Democratic Institute, the American Embassy and other donors. Many young NGO members received education in Europe and the USA, said the activist.

According to his story, the main mission of the Educational Centre "Intellectual Citizen" is to spread the idea of civil society in the Western Azerbaijan.

The arrest of Guseinli was directed against the active and free youth, Mirvari Gakhramanly, the head of the Organization for Oil Workers' Rights Protection, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.