Press conference devoted to political prisoners at Baku Press Club

The government must declare amnesty for people arrested in connection with the events of October 2003, poet Ramiz Rovshan, who is chair of the Committee to Struggle Against Repressions and Election Fraud (Editor's note: The committee was established after the events of October 15 and 16), said at a press conference held at the Press Club of Baku on January 16. He also voiced his discontent with the fact that courts had extended detention terms for leaders (chair of the Umid Party Igbal Agazade, deputy chair of the Musavat Party Arif Gadjili and others) and activists of the opposition parties. Ramiz Rovshan said he hoped Ilkham Aliyev would discharge all the prisoners by the day when he marked 100 days of his presidency. Kamil Veli Narimanogli, a member of the committee and professor of the Baku State University, who also spoke at the press conference, noted that for 3 months, they had been meeting representatives of diplomatic missions and international organizations accredited in Azerbaijan. "They denounced the repressions but refused to help us, saying they could not interfere in Azerbaijan's internal affairs," Kamil Veli Marimanolgi summed up.

Editors note: See also the article "Azerbaijan oppositionists to be held in custody for 3 more months".