Azerbaijani lawmaker says no one arrested for political views
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 30 January 2015 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Azerbaijani lawmaker says no one arrested for political views, 30 January 2015, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/54e1a47e4.html [accessed 27 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
January 30, 2015
By RFE/RL
An Azerbaijani parliamentarian has dismissed widespread claims of political prisoners being held in his country.
Samad Seyidov, chairman of the International and Interparliamentary Relations Committee of the Azerbaijani parliament, said on January 30 in Washington that no one in Azerbaijan has been arrested because of their political views.
Speaking at an event at the Atlantic Council think tank, Seyidov said "Nobody in Azerbaijan [has been] restricted or arrested because of their political [beliefs] or other things."
He added that the way to "exclude" Azerbaijan from further integration with Europe and a closer alliance with the United States was to raise human rights concerns with the Baku government.
Azerbaijan convicted or imprisoned at least 33 human rights defenders on politically motivated charges in 2014, according to Human Rights Watch, including at least 10 journalists.
Khadija Ismayilova, an independent journalist and RFE/RL contributor, is in pretrial detention in Baku for allegedly inciting a man to attempt suicide.
The EU and United States have expressed deep concern about Azerbaijan's crackdown on activists and journalists.
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
