Aliyev denies existence in Azerbaijan of political prisoners
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 15 January 2014 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Aliyev denies existence in Azerbaijan of political prisoners, 15 January 2014, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/533144035.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 15, 2014
By RFE/RL
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev prior to a North Atlantic Council (NAC) meeting at NATO headquarters in Brussels on January 15
BRUSSELS – Azebaijani President Ilham Aliyev has reiterated his position that no political prisoners exist in his country.
He made the comment during a visit to NATO headquarters in Brussels on January 15.
Aliyev was answering a question posed by RFE/RL on whether he still maintained that none of his political opponents is in jail, despite the incarceration of both presidential candidate Ilgar Mammadov and independent election observer Anar Mammadli.
Aliyev noted that a resolution on the existence of political prisoners in Azerbaijan was voted down by a majority of the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly last year.
Aliyev also stressed that Baku would comply with any decisions made by the European Court of Human Rights and noted that neither the Council of Europe nor the European Parliament has yet agreed on the definition of a political prisoner.
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
