Several members of Azerbaijan's Work Group for Political Prisoners quit organization-UPDATED

14:31

Protesting to the non-inclusion of people, fixed in the CE list of political prisoners, to the list of pardoned by the due decree of the President, several human rights activists left the Work Group for Human Rights.

These are Chingiz Ganizade, Arzu Abdullayeva, Saida Godjamanly, Sahib Mamedov, Saadat Benyanyarly and Novella Jafaroglu, as reported by Novella Jafaroglu, chairman of Dilara Aliyeva's Society for Protection of Women's Rights.

She said that the list of pardoned should have included Rasim Akperov, Natiq Efendiyev, Eynulla Fatullayev, Mirza Sakit, Mushfig Madatov and others. "Their names are fixed in the list of the Council of Europe. We were firm on the issue. In the result 15 out of 52 people  from the list have been released.

We are grateful to the President. Releasing of 15 out of 52 people is a great achievement. Yet, at the sessions of the Work Group  we have repeatedly stressed the importance to release those who are on the list of the Council of Europe. Those, who are  released by yesterday's decree are also important, but there is a necessity to release all political prisoners", she announced.

"We have long been cooperating within the Work Group, which has done too much for people, and we leave it not with pleasure but with grief", human rights activist noted.

Member of the work group, deputy Gultekin Gadjiyeva voiced regret that the human rights activists are leaving the group. She noted that the work group is the only structure, created between the government and NGOs. It has attained definite achievements  through the recent period.

"It would be correct to support and develop this initiative".

As for the demands  of the human rights activist, she noted that none of the world countries consider the demand of human rights activist to the judicial powers to release any to be correct:

"The last resolution of PACE requests to release people, pointed out by human rights activists, basing on principle of humanism. The resolution does not contain any demand.

The government and the Pardoning Commission has considered the issue and adopted due resolution. Neither the Council of Europe nor any other international organization may put pressure on the judicial system of countries".

Speaking about the future activity of the work group after the human rights activists have left it, Gultekin Gadjiyeva voiced hope that the group will continue operation.

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12:50

"We do not want to leave the organization. The work group has done too much and helped many people".

Abdullayeva admits that the activity of the work group was effective.

"However, we demanded from the Work Group to assist in releasing all reporters", the human rights activist said and added that, otherwise, they would leave the organization.

"Despite our decision, we positively assess the activity of the work group", she noted,

A.Abdullayev said if the government releases the remaining reporters, they will be able to return to the work group.

According to her, the issue of the continuation of work will be discussed today by the group members, who decided to quit the organization.

As is known, the President of Azerbaijan signed a decree to pardon 119 prisoners including 6 reporters yesterday.

The list of reporters includes editor-in-chief of the Senet newspaper Guseynov Samir Sadagatoglu and reporter of the newspaper Tagiyev Rafik Nazir (Rafik Tagi), consultant of the Nota bene newspaper Allahverdiyev Faramaz Novruz oglu (Faramaz Novruzoglu), editor-in-chief of the Mukhalifat newspaper Makhmudov Rovshan Alesker oglu (Rovshan Kabirli) and official of this newspaper Agazade Yashar Vagif ogly, as well as reporter Musayev Shovgi Vagif oglu (Shovgi Vagifohlu).

Three reporters, including Eynulla Fatullayev (Realny Azerbaijan (Real Azerbaijan), Gundelik Azerbaijan (Daily Azerbaijan)), Ganimat Zahid and Mirza Sakit (Azadlyg), are still in jail.

/Day.Az/