Rights defenders and activists worry about children of Azerbaijani political prisoners

Baku hosted a presentation of the novel by Intigam Aliev, a well-known lawyer and rights defender, which was combined with a charity action. The event included gathering of school supplies and books for children from low-income families, including those of political prisoners.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on April 22, 2015, a court in Baku sentenced Intigam Aliev, the head of the organization "Society for Legal Enlightenment", to 7.5 year in prison within the case of a large-scale embezzlement and tax evasion. On March 28, 2016, the Supreme Court of Azerbaijan replaced the real imprisonment for conditional one; and the rights defender was released.

The presentation of the novel "A Scoundrel's Death" by Intigam Aliev was held on September 7 in one of the Baku office centres, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports.

The summary of the novel says that the main hero is "one of the few self-sacrificing advocates who defend journalists and political activists." Based on trumped-up charges they place the advocate in jail. "A campaign is launched in his country and abroad in his defence; he is awarded prestigious international awards and becomes a symbol of the struggle for freedom not only in his own country, but also abroad," says the summary.

Activists decided to dedicate the presentation of Aliev's novel to gathering of school supplies and children's literature intended for children from low-income families living in remote areas of Azerbaijan, as well as for children from the families of political prisoners, the journalist, Sevindj Vagifgyzy, has explained.

"We have 119 political prisoners on the list; and half of them have schoolchildren in their families. Most families are in need," Intigam Aliev has stated.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on September 8, 2019 at 01:15 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.