Arrested oppositionists go on hunger-strike

Seven opposition leaders have yesterday gone on hunger strike. In their joint statement, the oppositionists indicate that the protest action will be conducted with a demand of providing conditions for the work of legal defense and putting an end to trial red-tape and isolation of the defendants from each other. The statement says the hunger-strike will continue three days.

It also mentions the administration of the Bailovo temporary detention isolator violates prisoners' rights and rejects parcels from their homes.

Meanwhile, Arif Aliev, leader of the Yeni Nasil association of journalists, and Yadigiar Mamedli, head of the Democratic Journalists League, have addressed Justice Mansur Ibaev with a request for releasing the editor-in-chief of Yeni Musavat newspaper from custody. The journalists made this request on the eve of July 22, Press Day in Azerbaijan.

Aliev and Mamedli are ready to go bail for Arifoglu. They are ready to pledge the property of the organizations they head to bail him out.

Rauf Arifoglu and six other oppositionists are under arrest charged with organizing mass disorders in Baku on October 16, 2003.