18 January 2019, 10:42
EP criticizes Azeri authorities for persecuting activists
The European Parliament (EP) has called on the Azerbaijani authorities to immediately release the blogger Mekhman Guseinov, as well as other detained activists and journalists, the resolution said on January 17.
The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that since January 7, oppositionists and convicted activists in Azerbaijan have been on hunger strike demanding to release Mekhman Guseinov and other political prisoners.
On December 26, 2018, Mekhman Guseinov announced a dry hunger strike in the colony, where he was serving his term, in protest against the new criminal case opened against him. During the hunger strike, Mekhman had severely undermined his health, and began taking liquid dairy products, because of severe stomach pains, but still refuses any other food, his brother and the advocate have stated.
On January 17, the resolution entitled "Mekhman Guseinov's Case in Azerbaijan" No. 2019/2511 was supported by 533 MEPs; and 28 MEPs voted against it, the "Turan" News Agency has reported.
The resolution, posted on the EP's website, condemns the criminal prosecution of the Azerbaijani blogger. "This is not the only case when the authorities bring new charges against political prisoners, whose current terms of imprisonment are expiring soon," the document says.
The operative part of the resolution consists of 10 points and contains, in particular, the demand for "the immediate and unconditional release of Mekhman Guseinov," the drop of the new charges from him and provision of medical care to him.
The EP has called to "put an end to censoring the criticism of the government by mass media," and to promptly release all the political prisoners.
This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on January 18, 2019 at 02:35 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.
Author: Faik Medzhid Source: CK correspondent
