PACE and the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly drew attention to political prisoners in the South and North Caucasus.

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Representatives of PACE and the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly criticized the arrests of journalists and activists in Russia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan on the International Day of Political Prisoners, mentioning Zarema Musaeva, Mziya Amaglobeli, Anar Mamedli, Ali Kerimli, Ulvi Hasanli, Farid Mehralizade, and Ulviya Ali.

As reported by "Caucasian Knot", October 30 has been observed in Russia since 1991 as the Day of Remembrance for Victims of Political Repression. In recent years, events dedicated to this day have increasingly taken place online: for example, the international action "Return of Names" in the Volgograd region was held online for security reasons, as some activists are under criminal prosecution. In Rostov-on-Don, police today demanded explanations from activists who came to lay flowers at the monument to the victims of political repression. This year, in southern Russia, victims of political repression were remembered without mass events and wide coverage, while in Yerevan, Vanadzor, and Tbilisi the names of those who perished during the Stalinist repressions were read out.

On the occasion of the International Day of Political Prisoners celebrated on October 30, the general rapporteur of PACE on political prisoners Azade Rojan (Sweden) and the special representative of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly on political prisoners Steve Cohen (USA) issued a joint statement, drawing attention to politically motivated arrests in Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, the Russian Federation, and Turkey.

"On October 30, 1974, political prisoners across the Soviet Union held a one-day hunger strike in protest against their treatment and to draw the world's attention to their plight. This action marked the beginning of a day of remembrance that remains relevant today," the document states.

Representatives of PACE and the OSCE PA specifically pointed to the cases of Yuri Dmitriev and Zarema Musaeva in Russia. "Yuri Dmitriev in Russia is a historian whose work documenting the truth about Soviet terror and repression has made him a target of persecution. Zarema Musaeva, whose arbitrary detention in Chechnya was confirmed by the European Court of Human Rights as a retaliatory measure for the opposition activities of her sons, who are in exile," the statement said.

They reminded of the fate of the arrested independent journalist Mziya Amaglobeli in Georgia, who ended up in custody "against the backdrop of anti-government protests and broader repression against media freedom".

The cases of human rights defender Anar Mamedli, opposition politician Ali Kerimli, journalists Ulvi Hasanli, Farid Mehralizade, and Ulviya Ali, as the rapporteurs claim, reflect the scale of suppression of freedom of expression, independent civil and political activity in Azerbaijan.

"Every release should be welcomed. Arbitrary deprivation of liberty should not become a tool for obtaining political or economic concessions. Such practices disgrace the authorities and specific individuals responsible for them. The release of people unjustly deprived of their freedom is an obligation, not a bargaining chip that rewards those whose actions led to their imprisonment," the statement further reads.

On the International Day of Political Prisoners, the authors of the statement reaffirm their commitment to continue the fight for the release of all those imprisoned for exercising their fundamental rights and freedoms. "Their names must remain on the international agenda until they can return home and live freely without fear of persecution for their peaceful beliefs and activities," concludes the statement by Rojan and Cohen.