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

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

 

Youth activists

  1. Abdullayev, Umid – board member of the D18 movement
  2. Akhundov, Rashadat Fikrat – founder and board member of the N!DA civic movement
  3. Azizov, Mammad Rasim oglu – member of the N!DA civic movement
  4. Guliyev, Bakhtiyar Samandar oglu – member of the N!DA civic movement
  5. Gurbanli, Zaur Araz oglu – member of the N!DA civic movement
  6. Hasanov, Rashad Zeynalabdin – board member of the N!DA civic
  7. Malikov, Dashgin Alisefa oglu – member of the Popular Front Party youth movement and social media activist
  8. Mammadli, Uzeyir Mahammad – board member of the N!DA civic
  9. Mursalov, Rasul Maarif – member of the Popular Front Party youth
  10. Novruzlu, Shahin Ibrahim oglu – member of the N!DA civic movement
  11. Rustemzade, Ilkin Bakir oglu – member of the Azad Genclik (“Free Youth”) organization and social media activist

 

Political activists

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

 

Religious followers

  1. Abbasov, Elchin – religious activist
  2. Abbasov, Emin Feramiz oglu – religious follower and son of jailed religious leader Feramiz Abbasov
  3. Abbasov, Feramiz – religious leader and activist
  4. Abbasov, Ruhid Mehman oglu – religious activist
  5. Abdullayev, Khudaverdi – religious activist
  6. Aghadadashov, Tarlan Faig oglu – religious activist
  7. Aghali, Rza – religious activist
  8. Aghayev, Bakhtiyar Latif – religious activist
  9. Aghayev, Suraj – religious activist in the Masalli region
  10. Akhunzade, Rufulla Hojjetullah olgu – chairman of the Astara district branch of the Islamic Party
  11. Alakbarov, Ilham – member of the Islamic Party and brother of Yusif Alakbarov, chairman of the Ganja City branch of the Islamic Party
  12. Alakbarov, Taleh Nadir – religious activist
  13. Aliyev, Ali – religious activist
  14. Aliyev, Haji – religious activist
  15. Aliyev, Ilham – religious activist
  16. Aliyev, Nijat – religious activist and brother-in-law of jailed website editor Araz Guliyev
  17. Allahverdiyev, Rovshan Faig oglu – religious follower
  18. Asgarov, Royal – religious activist
  19. Baghirli, Seymur Sahil oglu – religious activist
  20. Baghirov, Taleh – theologian, religious activist
  21. Fataliyev, Arif – religious activist
  22. Gadimov, Elchin Adil oglu – religious activist
  23. Gahramanov, Nahid – religious activist
  24. Gambarov, Mammad Anvar oglu – religious activist
  25. Garayev, Rauf Nabi oglu – religious activist
  26. Gasimli, Ulfat Vahid oglu – religious activist
  27. Gasimov, Anar Asgar – religious activist
  28. Guliyev, Jeyhun Garyaghdi – religious activist
  29. Guliyev, Nasimi – religious activist
  30. Guliyev, Sakhavat – religious activist
  31. Guluyev, Muraday – religious activist
  32. Gurbanov, Bakhtiyar Yashar oglu – religious activist
  33. Hasanov, Elnur Saig – religious activist
  34. Hasanov, Seyyid Nasimi – religious activist
  35. Hashimov, Elshan Aliaga – religious activist
  36. Hatamov, Ilham Bahman – religious activist
  37. Huseynov, Elimkhan – religious activist
  38. Huseynov, Samir – religious activist
  39. Huseynov, Seymur – religious activist
  40. Isayev, Elsevar Eldar – religious activist
  41. Jamalov, Gorkhmaz – religious activist
  42. Karimov, Davud Tarlan – religious activist
  43. Kazimov, Khalid – religious activist
  44. Kishiyev, Namig Alisa – religious activist
  45. Lalakishiyev, Vahid Yusif oglu – religious activist
  46. Malikov, Anar – religious activist
  47. Mammadov, Aydin Janbakhish oglu – religious activist
  48. Mammadov, Elchin Alisafa ogul – religious activist
  49. Mammadov, Elchin Fizuli – religious activist
  50. Mammadov, Niyameddin – religious activist
  51. Mammadov, Nofal Khurshud oglu – religious activist
  52. Mammadrzayev, Firdovsi – member of the Islamic Party and brother-in-law of jailed Islamic Party chairman, Movsum Samadov
  53. Mehdiyev, Ramil Babakhan oglu – religious activist
  54. Mammadov, Sefer – religious activist
  55. Mirzayev, Yusif – religious activist
  56. Musayev, Ilgar – religious activist from the city of Ganja
  57. Nasirov, Elvin – religious activist
  58. Rasulov, Turkel Ramin oglu – religious activist
  59. Rzayev, Elshad Fikrat oglu – religious activist
  60. Rzayev, Sahil Khalid oglu – religious activist
  61. Salehov, Rauf Nizami oglu – religious activist
  62. Samadov, Elmar – religious activist
  63. Samadov, Dayanat – member of the Islamic Party and brother-in-law of jailed Islamic Party chairman, Movsum Samadov
  64. Samadov, Movsum Merdan oglu – Chairman of the Islamic Party
  65. Saniyev, Samir – religious activist
  66. Seferli, Jeyhun – religious activist
  67. Shikhaliyev, Telman Shirali – religious activist
  68. Suleymanov, Abgul – theologian and religious activist
  69. Tahirov, Ziya – religious activist
  70. Tofigi, Emin – religious activist
  71. Valishov, Bayramali Gurbanali – religious activist
  72. Valiyev, Dadash Tofig oglu – religious activist
  73. Valiyev, Ilgar – religious activist
  74. Valiyev, Ramil – religious activist
  75. Yahyayev, Aghali – religious activist

 

Prisoners serving life sentences

  1. Aliyev, Sadikh Mikayil oglu – former member of the OMON special police
  2. Amiraslanov, Elchin Samad oglu – former member of the OMON special police forces
  3. Huseynov, Maqsud Vagif oglu – son of the jailed former head of the Samukh District Executive Authority
  4. Gayibov, Intigam Yusif oglu– former member of the Garangush militia
  5. Huseynov, Vagif Rza oglu – former head of the Samukh District Executive
  6. Ismayilov, Rashid Nurulla – jailed in connection with the case against former Prime Minister Surat Huseynov
  7. Kazimov, Arif Nazir oglu – former member of the OMON special police
  8. Karimov, Dayanat Karim oglu – former member of the Special Purpose Police Department
  9. Maharramov, Nadir Eldar oglu – former member of the Garangush militia
  10. Mammadaliyev, Sahib Nuraddin oglu – former member of the OMON special police forces
  11. Mammadov, Mammad Ali oglu – combatant in the Karabakh conflict
  12. Mammadvaliyev, Sabuhi Seyfaddin oglu - jailed in connection with the case against former Prime Minister Surat Huseynov
  13. Mustafayev, Elshad Teyyub oglu - jailed in connection with the case against former Prime Minister Surat Huseynov
  14. Mustafayev, Hasan Huseyn oglu - jailed in connection with the case against former Prime Minister Surat Huseynov
  15. Mustafayev, Magsad Teyyub oglu - jailed in connection with the case against former Prime Minister Surat Huseynov
  16. Poladov, Safa Alim oglu – former member of the OMON special police
  17. Shahmuradov, Yashar Khasay oglu – former member of the Garangush Militia group
  18. Tahirov Aliyusif Damat oglu – former member of the OMON special police

 

Other cases

  1. Aghayev, Farid Nadir – jailed in connection with the coup-plotting case against Said Dadashbayli
  2. Aliyev, Farhad – former Minister of Economic Development
  3. Aliyev, Jeyhun - jailed in connection with the coup-plotting case against Said Dadashbayli
  4. Aliyev, Rashad – jailed in connection with the coup-plotting case against Said Dadashbayli
  5. Beylerqizi Shamsiyya – member of the Union of Azerbaijani Journalists and Writers
  6. Dadashbayli, Said – leader of a group accused of an attempted coup d’état
  7. Farzullayev, Jeyhun – jailed in connection with the case against jailed Azerbaijan National Statehood Party Chairman Nemat Panahli
  8. Gojayev, Samir - jailed in connection with the coup-plotting case against Said Dadashbayli
  9. Guliyev, Baybala - jailed in connection with the coup-plotting case against Said Dadashbayli
  10. Guliyev, Nijat – former Minister of Foreign Economic Affairs
  11. Idrisov, Mikayil – jailed in connection with the coup-plotting case against Said Dadashbayli
  12. Insanov, Ali – former Minister of Health
  13. Karimov, Jahangir - jailed in connection with the coup-plotting case against Said Dadashbayli
  14. Karimov, Karamat Pasha oglu - jailed in connection with the case against former Prime Minister Surat Huseynov
  15. Karimov, Rasim - jailed in connection with the coup-plotting case against Said Dadashbayli
  16. Latifov, Asif – former officer of the Special State Protection Service
  17. Mehbaliyev, Emin - jailed in connection with the coup-plotting case against Said Dadashbayli
  18. Muradverdiyev, Akif – former official of the Presidential Administration
  19. Safaraliyeva, Shafaq – resident who complained about the Zerdab District Executive Authority head Lutfali Babayev
  20. Seyidov, Elnur – brother-in-law of Popular Front Party chairman Ali Kerimli and Texnikabank official

 

photo by Abbas Atilay