US Ambassador to UN calls on Azerbaijani authorities to release Ilgar Mamedov

In her special New Year's video message, Samantha Power, US Ambassador to the United Nations, has called on the Azerbaijani authorities to release from prison Ilgar Mamedov, the leader of the Azerbaijani motion "ReAl".

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on March 17, 2014, Ilgar Mamedov, the leader of the "Republican Alternative" (ReAl), was sentenced to seven years of imprisonment on the charge of organizing mass riots in Ismayilli in 2013. Ilgar Mamedov pleaded not guilty. On November 18, the SC of Azerbaijan rejected the cassation complaint lodged by Mamedov.

On January 3, a one-minute video message with an appeal of Samantha Power, US Ambassador to the UN, to release Ilgar Mamedov, entitled "Freedom to Ilgar Mamedov!", was published on the website of the Azerbaijani "Voice of America".

The video message, illustrated with photo materials, emphasizes that the Azerbaijani opposition leader was sentenced after he "criticized the government's tough response to demonstrations and display of public indignation." Meanwhile, the ECtHR has recognized violation of fundamental freedoms during the arrest of Ilgar Mamedov.

In the video message, Samantha Power calls on to release Ilgar Mamedov and states that "it is impossible to tolerate unjust arrests of people for their beliefs, political views and expressions."

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