19:48, 26 February 2016

CPPP demands to release 93 political prisoners in Azerbaijan

A participant of the rally holds a photo of the political prisoner Khadija Ismayilova. Baku, March 2015. Photo by Aziz Karimov for the "Caucasian Knot"

The human rights organization "Centre for protection of political prisoners" (CPPP) has submitted to the Commission on Pardon Issues under the President of Azerbaijan an updated list of political prisoners to be released from prisons.

Elshan Gasanov, the leader of the "Centre for protection of political prisoners", associates the updating of the above list with the expected traditional amnesty on the occasion of the upcoming spring holiday of Novruz Bayram, which coincides with the vernal equinox.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on December 23, 2015, a working group, consisting of members of NGOs, journalists and advocates, issued an updated list of 93 citizens of Azerbaijan, recognized as political prisoners in the country.

It is noted that the CPPP continues to treat Leyla Yunus and her husband Arif Yunus as political prisoners.

Besides, the updated list includes Shiite theologian Talekh Bagirzade, the leader of the "Muslim Unity", and nine persons arrested for involvement in the "Nardaran events", who are also treated as alleged political prisoners.

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

Author: Faik Medzhid

Source: CK correspondent