Donald Tusk promises to support Azerbaijani rights defenders

Donald Tusk, the President of the European Council, has visited Baku and met activists of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) there. His visit gave rise to hope for the release of political prisoners in Azerbaijan, said the experts, interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot".

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on July 21 Mr Tusk visited Tbilisi and the Georgian-South-Ossetian border. Baku became the last point of his tour over Southern Caucasus.

On July 22, Donald Tusk held a meeting with civil society activists. He is well informed about the problems of the civil society and the situation with political prisoners in the country, said Arzu Abdullaeva, the co-chair of the Helsinki Civil Assembly.

The meeting with Tusk was about the persecution of rights defenders and activists, freezing NGOs bank accounts, and pressure on the lawyers who defend rights of political prisoners, said the lawyer Khalid Bagirov.

Mr Tusk also held talks with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliev – both tête-à-tête and within delegations.

Now, when the relations with the West have spoiled, and hopes for Russia have failed, Azerbaijan is facing a threat of international isolation, said Arastun Orudjlu, the head of the Centre for East-West Studies.

According to Natig Djafarli, the executive secretary of the Movement "Republican Alternative" (ReAl), Baku will have to admit some policy easing and at least release political prisoners.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.