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IMPRISONED AZERI ACTIVISTS ON HUNGER STRIKE AMID EUROVISION FUSS
PanARMENIAN.Net
May 16, 2012 - 18:43 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - Twelve jailed Azerbaijani opposition activists
have started a hunger strike to coincide with the upcoming Eurovision
song contest, Azerbaijan~Rs Public Chamber opposition movement said
on Wednesday, May 15, RIA Novosti reported.
The protesters are demanding freedom for all "political prisoners"
in Azerbaijan who they say have been illegally arrested or convicted.
Eurovision will begin on May 22 and the finals will be held on May
26 in Azerbaijan's capital Baku . The prisoners chose to make their
protest during the event to draw attention to their campaign.
The jailed activists were convicted for participation in an
unsanctioned opposition meeting in Baku on April 2, 2011. The
protesters, from several opposition parties and movements, demanded
democratic reforms and new parliamentary elections in the country. The
meeting was violently dispersed by local riot police.
Amnesty International rights group has called the twelve inmates
"prisoners of conscience."
Public Chamber also plan to stage protest campaigns during Eurovision
in a bid to attract public attention to human rights violation in
Azerbaijan.
From: Baghdasarian
PanARMENIAN.Net
May 16, 2012 - 18:43 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - Twelve jailed Azerbaijani opposition activists
have started a hunger strike to coincide with the upcoming Eurovision
song contest, Azerbaijan~Rs Public Chamber opposition movement said
on Wednesday, May 15, RIA Novosti reported.
The protesters are demanding freedom for all "political prisoners"
in Azerbaijan who they say have been illegally arrested or convicted.
Eurovision will begin on May 22 and the finals will be held on May
26 in Azerbaijan's capital Baku . The prisoners chose to make their
protest during the event to draw attention to their campaign.
The jailed activists were convicted for participation in an
unsanctioned opposition meeting in Baku on April 2, 2011. The
protesters, from several opposition parties and movements, demanded
democratic reforms and new parliamentary elections in the country. The
meeting was violently dispersed by local riot police.
Amnesty International rights group has called the twelve inmates
"prisoners of conscience."
Public Chamber also plan to stage protest campaigns during Eurovision
in a bid to attract public attention to human rights violation in
Azerbaijan.
From: Baghdasarian