Amnesty International (AI) has urged the authorities to release Arif Hajili, Tural Abbasli and Mahammad Majidli and condemned the conviction. Nicola Duckwort, AI’s Director for Europe and Central Asia called for an end of harassment and imprisonment of people calling for political reform and an end to government corruption.
All of the convicted persons claim they were physically abused while in custody. The trial has been held in absence of journalists and opposition politicians. The police surrounded the court building to prevent a large crowd of supporters of the convicted men from entering.
AI: Azerbaijan: Opposition activists sentenced over peaceful protests
World Bulletin: Azerbaijan jails opposition activists
