Azerbaijan: an updated list of political prisoners

The Baku-based Human Rights Club has released a new list of political prisoners in Azerbaijan. The list outlines cases of 142 persons who are currently in detention or imprisoned for politically motivated reasons.

Among these are journalists, bloggers, human rights defenders, civic and political activists, and religious followers, many arrested in connection with exercising their rights to freedom of expression, assembly, and association. The release of the list comes just eight days ahead of Azerbaijan’s 9th October presidential election.

The following is a list of cases of politically motivated detention and imprisonment in Azerbaijan, current as of 1 October 2013. The Baku-based Human Rights Club developed this list using the criteria set out by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) in Resolution 1900 from 3 October 2012.

In compiling this list, the Human Rights Club consulted with a wide range of other human rights organizations, examined previous lists of political prisoners and media reports, and interviewed lawyers and family members of prisoners. The Human Rights Club is developing a report-length version of this list, containing full case details, which is planned for release in January 2014.

The Human Rights Club notes that the number of politically motivated detentions and imprisonments has increased sharply since the defeat on 26 January 2013 of a key PACE resolution on “The follow-up to the issue of political prisoners in Azerbaijan.” At the time of the vote, there were 60 cases of alleged political prisoners included in then-rapporteur Christoph Strässer’s list. As of 1 October 2013, the Human Rights Club has documented 142 cases, underscoring the need for renewed attention by PACE to this issue.

The Human Rights Club further notes that three of the prisoners included in this list were on the original Council of Europe list of political prisoners in Azerbaijan from 2001, and yet they still have not been released: Elchin Amiraslanov, Arif Kazimov, and Safa Poladov.

Journalists and bloggers

1. Alibayli, Sardar Mahammadali oglu – Nota Bene newspaper editor-in-chief
2. Aliyev, Nijat Nazim oglu – www.azadxeber.az website editor-in-chief
3. Allahverdiyev (Novruzoglu), Faramaz Novruz oglu – freelance journalist
4. Guliyev, Araz Faiq oglu – www.xeber44.com website editor
5. Hashimli, Parviz Kamran oglu – Bizim Yol newspaper correspondent
6. Huseynov, Fuad Ogtay oglu – freelance journalist, Ujar region
7. Mammadov, Hilal Alif oglu – Tolishi Sedo newspaper editor-in-chief and Talysh rights activist
8. Ramazanov, Rashad Aghaaddin oglu – micro-blogger and religious
9. Yagublu, Tofig Rashid oglu – Yeni Musavat newspaper correspondent and Deputy Chairman of the Musavat Party
10. Zeynalli, Avaz Tapdig oglu – Khural newspaper editor-in-chief

Human rights defenders

11. Amiraslanov, Ilham Seraslan oglu – activist of Kur Civil Society
12. Mammadov, Bakhtiyar Heydar oglu – director of Inamla Huquq (“Law with Faith”) LLC

Youth activists

13. Abdullayev, Umid – board member of the D18 movement
14. Akhundov, Rashadat Fikrat – founder and board member of the N!DA civic movement
15. Azizov, Mammad Rasim oglu – member of the N!DA civic movement
16. Guliyev, Bakhtiyar Samandar oglu – member of the N!DA civic movement
17. Gurbanli, Zaur Araz oglu – member of the N!DA civic movement
18. Hasanov, Rashad Zeynalabdin – board member of the N!DA civic
19. Malikov, Dashgin Alisefa oglu – member of the Popular Front Party youth movement and social media activist
20. Mammadli, Uzeyir Mahammad – board member of the N!DA civic
21. Mursalov, Rasul Maarif – member of the Popular Front Party youth
22. Novruzlu, Shahin Ibrahim oglu – member of the N!DA civic movement
23. Rustemzade, Ilkin Bakir oglu – member of the Azad Genclik (“Free Youth”) organization and social media activist

Political activists

24. Hajiyev, Rahib – member of the Popular Front Party in the Surakhani region
25. Mammadov, Gurban Jalal oglu – member of the opposition National Council and human rights lawyer
26. Mammadov, Ilgar Eldar oglu – chairman and would-be presidential candidate of the Republican Alternative movement
27. Penahli (Penahov), Nemat – chairman of the Azerbaijan National Statehood Party
28. Rahim, Musa – member of the Popular Front Party
29. Sadigov, Yadigar Sadig oglu – advisor to the chairman of the Musavat

Religious followers

30. Abbasov, Elchin – religious activist
31. Abbasov, Emin Feramiz oglu – religious follower and son of jailed religious leader Feramiz Abbasov
32. Abbasov, Feramiz – religious leader and activist
33. Abbasov, Ruhid Mehman oglu – religious activist
34. Abdullayev, Khudaverdi – religious activist
35. Aghadadashov, Tarlan Faig oglu – religious activist
36. Aghali, Rza – religious activist
37. Aghayev, Bakhtiyar Latif – religious activist
38. Aghayev, Suraj – religious activist in the Masalli region
39. Akhunzade, Rufulla Hojjetullah olgu – chairman of the Astara district branch of the Islamic Party
40. Alakbarov, Ilham – member of the Islamic Party and brother of Yusif Alakbarov, chairman of the Ganja City branch of the Islamic Party
41. Alakbarov, Taleh Nadir – religious activist
42. Aliyev, Ali – religious activist
43. Aliyev, Haji – religious activist
44. Aliyev, Ilham – religious activist
45. Aliyev, Nijat – religious activist and brother-in-law of jailed website editor Araz Guliyev
46. Allahverdiyev, Rovshan Faig oglu – religious follower
47. Asgarov, Royal – religious activist
48. Baghirli, Seymur Sahil oglu – religious activist
49. Baghirov, Taleh – theologian, religious activist
50. Fataliyev, Arif – religious activist
51. Gadimov, Elchin Adil oglu – religious activist
52. Gahramanov, Nahid – religious activist
53. Gambarov, Mammad Anvar oglu – religious activist
54. Garayev, Rauf Nabi oglu – religious activist
55. Gasimli, Ulfat Vahid oglu – religious activist
56. Gasimov, Anar Asgar – religious activist
57. Guliyev, Jeyhun Garyaghdi – religious activist
58. Guliyev, Nasimi – religious activist
59. Guliyev, Sakhavat – religious activist
60. Guluyev, Muraday – religious activist
61. Gurbanov, Bakhtiyar Yashar oglu – religious activist
62. Hasanov, Elnur Saig – religious activist
63. Hasanov, Seyyid Nasimi – religious activist
64. Hashimov, Elshan Aliaga – religious activist
65. Hatamov, Ilham Bahman – religious activist
66. Huseynov, Elimkhan – religious activist
67. Huseynov, Samir – religious activist
68. Huseynov, Seymur – religious activist
69. Isayev, Elsevar Eldar – religious activist
70. Jamalov, Gorkhmaz – religious activist
71. Karimov, Davud Tarlan – religious activist
72. Kazimov, Khalid – religious activist
73. Kishiyev, Namig Alisa – religious activist
74. Lalakishiyev, Vahid Yusif oglu – religious activist
75. Malikov, Anar – religious activist
76. Mammadov, Aydin Janbakhish oglu – religious activist
77. Mammadov, Elchin Alisafa ogul – religious activist
78. Mammadov, Elchin Fizuli – religious activist
79. Mammadov, Niyameddin – religious activist
80. Mammadov, Nofal Khurshud oglu – religious activist
81. Mammadrzayev, Firdovsi – member of the Islamic Party and brother-in-law of jailed Islamic Party chairman, Movsum Samadov
82. Mehdiyev, Ramil Babakhan oglu – religious activist
83. Mammadov, Sefer – religious activist
84. Mirzayev, Yusif – religious activist
85. Musayev, Ilgar – religious activist from the city of Ganja
86. Nasirov, Elvin – religious activist
87. Rasulov, Turkel Ramin oglu – religious activist
88. Rzayev, Elshad Fikrat oglu – religious activist
89. Rzayev, Sahil Khalid oglu – religious activist
90. Salehov, Rauf Nizami oglu – religious activist
91. Samadov, Elmar – religious activist
92. Samadov, Dayanat – member of the Islamic Party and brother-in-law of jailed Islamic Party chairman, Movsum Samadov
93. Samadov, Movsum Merdan oglu – Chairman of the Islamic Party
94. Saniyev, Samir – religious activist
95. Seferli, Jeyhun – religious activist
96. Shikhaliyev, Telman Shirali – religious activist
97. Suleymanov, Abgul – theologian and religious activist
98. Tahirov, Ziya – religious activist
99. Tofigi, Emin – religious activist
100. Valishov, Bayramali Gurbanali – religious activist
101. Valiyev, Dadash Tofig oglu – religious activist
102. Valiyev, Ilgar – religious activist
103. Valiyev, Ramil – religious activist
104. Yahyayev, Aghali – religious activist

Prisoners serving life sentences

105. Aliyev, Sadikh Mikayil oglu – former member of the OMON special police
106. Amiraslanov, Elchin Samad oglu – former member of the OMON special police forces
107. Huseynov, Maqsud Vagif oglu – son of the jailed former head of the Samukh District Executive Authority
108. Gayibov, Intigam Yusif oglu– former member of the Garangush militia
109. Huseynov, Vagif Rza oglu – former head of the Samukh District Executive
110. Ismayilov, Rashid Nurulla – jailed in connection with the case against former Prime Minister Surat Huseynov
111. Kazimov, Arif Nazir oglu – former member of the OMON special police
112. Karimov, Dayanat Karim oglu – former member of the Special Purpose Police Department
113. Maharramov, Nadir Eldar oglu – former member of the Garangush militia
114. Mammadaliyev, Sahib Nuraddin oglu – former member of the OMON special police forces
115. Mammadov, Mammad Ali oglu – combatant in the Karabakh conflict
116. Mammadvaliyev, Sabuhi Seyfaddin oglu - jailed in connection with the case against former Prime Minister Surat Huseynov
117. Mustafayev, Elshad Teyyub oglu - jailed in connection with the case against former Prime Minister Surat Huseynov
118. Mustafayev, Hasan Huseyn oglu - jailed in connection with the case against former Prime Minister Surat Huseynov
119. Mustafayev, Magsad Teyyub oglu - jailed in connection with the case against former Prime Minister Surat Huseynov
120. Poladov, Safa Alim oglu – former member of the OMON special police
121. Shahmuradov, Yashar Khasay oglu – former member of the Garangush Militia group
122. Tahirov Aliyusif Damat oglu – former member of the OMON special police

Other cases

123. Aghayev, Farid Nadir – jailed in connection with the coup-plotting case against Said Dadashbayli
124. Aliyev, Farhad – former Minister of Economic Development
125. Aliyev, Jeyhun - jailed in connection with the coup-plotting case against Said Dadashbayli
126. Aliyev, Rashad – jailed in connection with the coup-plotting case against Said Dadashbayli
127. Beylerqizi Shamsiyya – member of the Union of Azerbaijani Journalists and Writers
128. Dadashbayli, Said – leader of a group accused of an attempted coup d’état
129. Farzullayev, Jeyhun – jailed in connection with the case against jailed Azerbaijan National Statehood Party Chairman Nemat Panahli
130. Gojayev, Samir - jailed in connection with the coup-plotting case against Said Dadashbayli
131. Guliyev, Baybala - jailed in connection with the coup-plotting case against Said Dadashbayli
132. Guliyev, Nijat – former Minister of Foreign Economic Affairs
133. Idrisov, Mikayil – jailed in connection with the coup-plotting case against Said Dadashbayli
134. Insanov, Ali – former Minister of Health
135. Karimov, Jahangir - jailed in connection with the coup-plotting case against Said Dadashbayli
136. Karimov, Karamat Pasha oglu - jailed in connection with the case against former Prime Minister Surat Huseynov
137. Karimov, Rasim - jailed in connection with the coup-plotting case against Said Dadashbayli
138. Latifov, Asif – former officer of the Special State Protection Service
139. Mehbaliyev, Emin - jailed in connection with the coup-plotting case against Said Dadashbayli
140. Muradverdiyev, Akif – former official of the Presidential Administration
141. Safaraliyeva, Shafaq – resident who complained about the Zerdab District Executive Authority head Lutfali Babayev
142. Seyidov, Elnur – brother-in-law of Popular Front Party chairman Ali Kerimli and Texnikabank official

photo by Abbas Atilay