Baku authorities refused to sanction march in support of political prisoners

The Baku authorities has denied the idea of the "Musavat" Party to hold a march and rally on March 10 with a demand to release political prisoners, explaining this by inconveniences for townspeople. The initiators have treated the refusal as a restriction imposed on the freedom of assembly.

Gyulyaga Aslanly, the head of the office of the "Musavat" Party, has told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that on February 27, the Party sent a notification to the Baku authorities about its intention to hold a march and a rally on March 10 with a demand to release the country's political prisoners and ensure the observance of fundamental human rights and freedoms.

"The authorities motivated their refusal by the 'excessively dense traffic' on the routes we proposed ... We treat the Mayoralty's arguments as untenable and regard it as a violation of the freedom of assembly," Mr Aslanly has added.

Arif Gadjily, the leader of the "Musavat" Party, has treated the Mayoralty's as "a fear of citizens' mass manifestations."

"All over the world, manifestations are being held even in the very central places of cities ... This is another proof that they are afraid of demonstrations anywhere, because they know that our action will be many thousands-strong," Mr Gadjily has stated.

Elshan Gasanov, a member of the Union "For the Freedom of Political Prisoners of Azerbaijan", has noted that "in recent weeks, the authorities have completely banned the already restricted freedom of assembly."