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AZERBAIJANI OPPOSITION MEMBERS DECLARE HUNGER STRIKE
PanARMENIAN.Net
May 15, 2012 - 20:16 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - Twelve detained members of Azerbaijan's opposition
went on hunger strike on Tuesday, May 15 to press for their release,
according to opposition group Civic Ward, eleven days before the
former Soviet republic is to host the Eurovision Song Contest, Amnesty
International considers all hunger strikers to be political prisoners,
dpa news reported.
Meanwhile Volker Beck, a German legislator of the Green Party,
said the human rights situation in the former Soviet republic was
"extremely critical."
The politician said he was planning to visit the Azeri capital Baku on
Wednesday to take part in a human rights conference entitled Sing for
Democracy. He was also due to meet gay rights activist Kamran Rzayev.
"The Azerbaijani government is blocking human rights activists wherever
it can," Beck said. "The regime of Aliyev should not be allowed to
turn Eurovision into a big propaganda show."
"We have no choice but to kick this dictator in the shin, verbally
at least," he said.
Amnesty International has called for an end to police violence against
dissidents in Azerbaijan. On Monday, authorities arrested about 20
people taking part in spontaneous protests against the regime.
PanARMENIAN.Net
May 15, 2012 - 20:16 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - Twelve detained members of Azerbaijan's opposition
went on hunger strike on Tuesday, May 15 to press for their release,
according to opposition group Civic Ward, eleven days before the
former Soviet republic is to host the Eurovision Song Contest, Amnesty
International considers all hunger strikers to be political prisoners,
dpa news reported.
Meanwhile Volker Beck, a German legislator of the Green Party,
said the human rights situation in the former Soviet republic was
"extremely critical."
The politician said he was planning to visit the Azeri capital Baku on
Wednesday to take part in a human rights conference entitled Sing for
Democracy. He was also due to meet gay rights activist Kamran Rzayev.
"The Azerbaijani government is blocking human rights activists wherever
it can," Beck said. "The regime of Aliyev should not be allowed to
turn Eurovision into a big propaganda show."
"We have no choice but to kick this dictator in the shin, verbally
at least," he said.
Amnesty International has called for an end to police violence against
dissidents in Azerbaijan. On Monday, authorities arrested about 20
people taking part in spontaneous protests against the regime.