Journalists and activists have proposed establishing a Day of Political Prisoners in Azerbaijan.

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Imprisoned Azerbaijani journalists and activists have proposed establishing a Political Prisoners' Day in the country. They believe that this day could be celebrated on November 18, marking the death of political prisoner Faina Kungurova.

As "Caucasian Knot" reported, in 2024, the number of political prisoners in Azerbaijan exceeded 300 for the first time since the early 2000s. On February 12, 2025, the Union for Freedom of Political Prisoners in Azerbaijan published a new list of political prisoners, including 357 names. On June 10, the updated list included 375 people, and on October 7, 392. However, in the new list of political prisoners, published on January 15, the number of political prisoners decreased to 340 due to some of them being eligible for amnesty and some being released due to the completion of their sentences. On May 13, the Union for Freedom of Political Prisoners in Azerbaijan published a new national list of political prisoners, including 328 names.

On June 1, 30 imprisoned activists and journalists issued a statement proposing the establishment of a Day of Political Prisoners. "On May 28, Azerbaijan celebrated Republic Day – Independence Day. "However, unfortunately, in a country with a 108-year history, no concrete reforms in the area of ​​human rights and freedoms have been carried out," reads the statement, which was shared with a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent by relatives of the authors.

Overall, political arrests and persecution over 30 years of authoritarian rule have become a traditional form of punishment.

Over the past 30 years, the situation with civil rights and freedoms has become even worse than it was during the 70-year period of Soviet totalitarianism, the appeal continues. "The current authoritarian government has completely restricted all political, economic, and cultural freedoms, suppressed political competition, and completely destroyed independent media and civil society institutions. Active members of society, opposition leaders, representatives of civil society, and the media have been subjected to repression and imprisonment. "In general, political arrests and persecution over 30 years of authoritarian rule have become a traditional form of punishment," the authors of the statement write.

Currently, there are more than 300 political prisoners in Azerbaijan, including nine journalists, they further note. "Considering all this, as well as the fact that the problem of political prisoners has remained relevant in the country for 30 years, we consider it necessary to establish a Day of Political Prisoners in Azerbaijan and celebrate it annually," the arrested journalists and activists further emphasize.

They propose to consider November 18 as the Day of Political Prisoners - the day of death of the first female political prisoner in Azerbaijan, political activist Faina Kungurova, who was subjected to and died during a hunger strike after her arrest.

The statement was signed by journalists and activists arrested in the Abzas Media Toplum TV and Meydan TV cases: Shamshad Aga, Aynur Elgunesh, Akif Gurbanov, Natig Javadli, Hafiz Babali, Ruslan Izzetli, Sevinj Vagifgyzy, Aytaj Tapdyg, Khayala Agayeva, Aysel Umudova, Ulviya Ali, Fatima Movlamli, Ramin Deko, Nurlan Gahramanli, Akhmed Mukhtar, Nargiz Absalamova, Ulvi Hasanli, Elnara Gasimova, Mushfig Jabbar, Farid Ismailov, Ramil Babayev, Ali Zeynal, Ilkin Amrahov, human rights activist Rufat Safarov, election expert Mammad Mammadzade, young researcher Bakhruz Samedov, head of the Meclis.Info platform Imran Aliyev, and head of the alternative trade union confederation "Workers' Platform" Afiyatdin Mammadov.

Activist considers establishment of Political Prisoners' Day appropriate

An anonymous Baku activist called the initiative to establish Political Prisoners' Day quite "logical" and "appropriate."

In recent years, the problem of political prisoners has become particularly acute, their number is in the hundreds.

"After the collapse of The USSR believed that the practice of politically motivated arrests was a thing of the past. However, in independent Azerbaijan, it continued for a very long time. Following the overthrow of Abulfaz Elchibey's democratic government and the de facto revenge of the old party nomenklatura, which merely changed its ideological guise, the practice of political arrests resumed in the country in 1993. It was carried out according to the principle of a revolving door—with political prisoners periodically released and soon replaced by others. In recent years, the problem of political prisoners has become particularly acute, with their number numbering in the hundreds. Last year, the number reached 400, but after the amnesty announced last year, it decreased somewhat, due to the release of those who had six months remaining on their sentences. However, in March, new politically motivated arrests of Shiite believers followed. "There are currently 328 political prisoners in the country, including leading opposition politicians, journalists, human rights activists, religious figures, and activists," he told a Caucasian Knot correspondent.

He believes November 18 could be celebrated as Political Prisoners' Day. "Of course, the political atmosphere in the country is such that any mass protests will not be possible. But this date could be used on social media to protest the arrests of political prisoners and demand their release. This date could also be a day of remembrance for the victims of Stalinist repressions," the activist said.

The "Caucasian Knot" also reported that six prisoners at Colony No. 2 in Baku announced the creation of a "Committee for the Defense of Political Prisoners" on November 24. The decision to establish such a group was made given that human rights and freedom violations in Azerbaijan "have reached a critical level and become systematic," according to a statement released by the initiative. The statement was signed by investigative journalist Hafiz Babali, economist Fazil Gasimov, trade union activist Afiyaddin Mammadov, former political émigré Samir Ashurov, activist Lachin Veliyev, and member of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan Mehman Aliyev. Following the announcement of the organization's creation, the members of the Committee for the Defense of Political Prisoners faced pressure, threats, and obstacles in communicating with their families.

Azerbaijani authorities reject allegations of persecution of government critics. "Freedom of the media is ensured in Azerbaijan. There is no censorship in Azerbaijan, [but] there is a free internet, hundreds of media outlets operate. Therefore, it would be unfair to criticize Azerbaijan for actions allegedly aimed at hindering the development of the media. What kind of restrictions can we talk about with a free internet?" - said Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on April 26, 2025 in Berlin. Aliyev linked the arrests of journalists to "illegal financing from abroad."