Azerbaijani journalist Alibeili asks to remove him from list of "prisoners of conscience"

The journalist Sardar Alibeili, convicted and serving his sentence on charge of hooliganism, has asked to remove his name and photo from the list of "prisoners of conscience". He has sent the appropriate appeal to the heads of the media and the opposition leaders.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on November 13, 2013, Sardar Alibeili, the editor-in-chief of the newspaper "P.S. Nota" and the online-edition "Psnota.com", was sentenced to four years of imprisonment. The journalist has claimed he was being prosecuted for political reasons. The international human rights organization "Amnesty International" (AI) has recognized Sardar Alibeili a "prisoner of conscience" and condemned the policy of the Azerbaijani authorities to suppress dissent.

However, at present, Sardar Alibeili has appealed to the public, the opposition and the international institutions and announced that he refuses a status of a "prisoner of conscience". In his appeal, he writes that the current geopolitical situation has acquired quite a dangerous character and that Azerbaijan "at any time can become a target for the growing violent terrorism and transnational groupings, seeking to re-divide the world."

The journalist has called on the Azerbaijani opposition and all the political forces of the country to unite in the interests of the state.

In his appeal posted on the official website of the Penitentiary Service, the journalist also expresses his concern over the recent resolution of the European Parliament and the excitement that arose around it, the "Trend" reports.