Azerbaijan holds a marathon session in support of convicted journalists' families

The Institute for Reporters' Freedom and Safety (IRFS) of Azerbaijan has summed up the "Novruz Marathon" action - a charitable fundraising session in favour of the families of six convicted journalists. The action started on February 25 and ended on March 20 - by the Novruz spring holiday.

Emin Guseinov, Director of the IRFS, said to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that in total 77 persons took part in the action - journalists, politicians, human rights activists and "ordinary citizens not indifferent to the freedom of speech in Azerbaijan." In total, 2814 manats (about 3380 US dollars) were raised in the course of the action. In the holiday, the money was handed over to the families of convicted journalists.

Each family received from 180 to 707 manats (210-840 US dollars).

With the aim to maintain the transparency of the charitable action, the IRFS has promulgated the list of the participants of the marathon action and the sums they have donated. The list was also placed in the website of the Institute: www.irfs.az.

"Certainly, the raised money is no solution to material problems of the families who lost their breadwinners. But it's a solidarity and encouragement act to our colleagues," Mr Guseinov said.

The Director of the IRFS has expressed his regret that the authorities protract release Mirza Sakit (Sakit Zakhidov) from the "Azadlyg" newspaper, who got under the amnesty announced on March 17 and dated to Novruz holiday. "The colony administration, where Mirza Sakit is kept, asserts that convicts will be released 'after the holiday.' It means that Sakit will be at large on March 29 in the best," said Guseinov.

No comments were available from the Penitentiary Service of Azerbaijan, because of days-off (on the occasion of Novruz, March 20-28 are days-off in Azerbaijan, - note of the "Caucasian Knot").