ArmInfo.Twenty PACE MPs proposed to adopt a resolution "On the increase in the cases of political prisoners in Azerbaijan." Initiator of the document was the MPfrom Italy, Maurizio Buccarella.
"The growing persecution of journalists, human rights activists and oppositionists in Azerbaijan, the growth in the number of political prisoners is alarming," the document, signed by 20 parliamentarians from 13 countries, says.
The document mentions the arrest of journalist Avaz Zeynalli and human rights lawyer Elchin Sadigov. The authorities ignored the call of the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatovic, to immediately release Zeynalli and Sadigov.
In mid-2022, blogger Abid Gafarov was imprisoned on trumped-up charges of defamation. The prosecution has initiated three criminal cases against oppositionist Ali Aliyev on the same charge, Turan reports.
In May 2022, blogger Rashad Ramazanov was arrested on trumped-up charges.
"The Parliamentary Assembly should carefully consider and study the existing cases of political prisoners in Azerbaijan," the document says.
The authors of the petition believe that the Assembly should call on the Azerbaijani government to comply with the European Convention on Human Rights and release all political prisoners.
It is yet unknown when the draft resolution will be discussed in the PACE.