RECENTLY RELEASED JOURNALIST STARTS WORK AGAIN

Former political prisoner Eynulla Fatullayev, editor of Realniy Azerbaidjan and Gundelik Azerbaijan newspapers, who was released from prison not long ago, announced the Movement For Human Rights, which is led by Fatullayev himself.

He announced that he has at last he received his 27.000 Euro compensation from the government in accordance with the European Court of Human Rights ruling. Fatullayev said that this was not just his personal victory but a triumph for the whole democratic community, and expressed his gratitude to everyone who had campaigned for his release.

Fatullayev said that he already rented the office and created departments for public relations, law and political prisoners.

He said that he would be organizing an international conference on Human Rights in Baku, to be held on November 4th 2011, with the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe special speaker for political prisoners, Christopher Strasser, to speak.

Strasser is expected to meet with the families and lawyers of Azerbaijani political prisoners, and to special report for the winter session of PACE. Fatullayev said that any attempt by the Azerbaijani government to interfere with Strasser’s trip would risk a serious international scandal.

Fatullayev also announced that together with Human Rights Club, he intends to conduct research in prisons around the country and has already received the consent of the management of the Penitentiary Service.

With regard to current political prisoners, Fatullayev said “do half of what you did for me for Jabbar Savalanli and he will be set free.” There was a powerful international campaign for Fatullayev’s release, led by Amnesty International.

Fatullayev said that he intends to ask prominent public figures in Azerbaijani to appeal to the President for Savalanli’s release. He concluded by asking the public for their support.