16:50, 15 June 2005

NGO success in Azerbaijan

Four political prisoners have been released in Azerbaijan: Taliyat Aliyev, a deputy chairman of the Democratic Party; Tair Agayev and Nadir Abbasov who have no party membership and who were arrested in connection with the October events; and Tofik Asadov of the Musavat party.

Taliyat Aliyev was convicted under Article 299.3 of the Criminal Code "Compulsion to give false evidence" in 2004 for accusing a witness, a police officer, of false evidence at the trial of seven opposition leaders.

A criminal case was opened against Tofik Asadov under Article 221 of the Criminal Code "Hooliganism." His entire guilt is that he publicly expressed his discontent with the number of Heidar Aliyev monuments in the country.

In his comment on these releases, human rights defender Eldar Zeinalov said these took place largely because of an agreement between human rights advocates and government representatives. He said the government undertook to release all political prisoners before 20 June.

Author: Zaur Rasulzade, CK correspondent