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US Senator John McCain Calls on Azerbaijani President to Release All
Political Prisoners
WASHINGTON, D.C. January 5, 2012: On New Year's Eve the US Senator
John McCain sent a personal letter to President Ilham Aliyev calling
for the release of all political prisoners. The Turan News Agency was
informed that Senator McCain had praised the last act of clemency by
the Azerbaijani president, in which the unjustly convicted youth
activist and blogger Jabbar Savalan was released. "I urge you to
immediately release 16 other prisoners convicted for organizing
peaceful rallies, as well as all other prisoners of conscience," the
message says. The US senator expressed "extreme concern" that the
authorities still hold the brothers Farhad and Rafig Aliyev in jail,
although both could be released in accordance with Articles 76 and 78
of the Criminal Code (parole and for health reasons). "As President,
you have the power to release the Aliyev brothers and other prisoners
of conscience. This would be fair and right and would strengthen our
bilateral relations. The US appreciates relations with countries that
share common values and respect human rights and freedoms of all
citizens,' the letter reads (Turan).
Political Prisoners
WASHINGTON, D.C. January 5, 2012: On New Year's Eve the US Senator
John McCain sent a personal letter to President Ilham Aliyev calling
for the release of all political prisoners. The Turan News Agency was
informed that Senator McCain had praised the last act of clemency by
the Azerbaijani president, in which the unjustly convicted youth
activist and blogger Jabbar Savalan was released. "I urge you to
immediately release 16 other prisoners convicted for organizing
peaceful rallies, as well as all other prisoners of conscience," the
message says. The US senator expressed "extreme concern" that the
authorities still hold the brothers Farhad and Rafig Aliyev in jail,
although both could be released in accordance with Articles 76 and 78
of the Criminal Code (parole and for health reasons). "As President,
you have the power to release the Aliyev brothers and other prisoners
of conscience. This would be fair and right and would strengthen our
bilateral relations. The US appreciates relations with countries that
share common values and respect human rights and freedoms of all
citizens,' the letter reads (Turan).