‘Amnesty International’: Azerbaijan targets leading activists to silence opposition
“Amnesty International” called on Azerbaijani authorities to immediately release three leading opposition activists imprisoned for organizing and taking part in peaceful protests, “Turan” news agency informs.
A court in Baku sentenced Arif Hajili, Chairman of the Musavat Party, Tural Abbasli, head of Musavat’s Youth Organization and Mahammad Majidli, of the Popular Front Party (PFP) to two and a half years each in prison on Monday.
“Today, few critical voices are tolerated in Azerbaijan. Increasingly, the government is targeting leading activists in an attempt to silence the opposition, and in the hope that making examples out of the most outspoken will dissuade others from speaking out,” said Nicola Duckworth, Amnesty International’s Director for Europe and Central Asia.