14:58, 25 March 2004

Azerbaijan political prisoners set up political movement

Leaders of some opposition parties held in the Bailovskaya prison, Baku, Azerbaijan, set up 16 October Movement on March 24. The statement, signed by deputy chairs of the Musavat party Ibragim Ibragimli, Arif Gadjiyev and Rauf Arifoglu, secretary general of the Democratic Party Sardar Jalaloglu, leader of the People's Party Panakh Guseynov, leader of the Umid party Igbal Agazade, and chairman of the Karabakh Veterans Association Etimad Asadov, reads that the aim of the movement is to struggle for the rights of all political prisoners. 16 October Movement is going to seek rehabilitation of all people subjected to repressions during riots in the aftermath of the presidential election and restoration of justice, reads the statement.

To remind, criminal procedures have been instituted against 128 participants in the October clashes with police. As of today, 9 trials are over, 18 people have been sentenced to imprisonment for the period from 3 to 6 years. Another 42 people have been put on probation.

Source: Rosbalt News Agency