Azerbaijan developments ahead of September Referendum

Looks like this list will just get longer and longer. 

I started compiling list of arrested, detained (as well as released) activists in Azerbaijan since August ahead of the upcoming referendum. 

It is work in progress. 

Natig Jafarli arrested August 13, 2016 (REAL movement)- sentenced to 4 months in pretrial detention; charges: illegal entrepreneurship and abuse of power (Released September 9, ; 

*Bakhtiyar Hajiyev fined in the amount of 100AZN for "petty hooliganism";

Elgiz Gahraman, arrested August 13, 2016 (N!DA)- sentenced to 4 months in pretrial detention on charges of drug possession (later interrogated for alleged links to Gulen movement); 

Elshen Gasimov arrested August 15, 2016 (REAL movement)- sentenced to 7 days in administrative detention for resisting police [released];

Togrul Ismayilov arrested August 15, 2016 (REAL movement)- sentenced to 7 days in administrative detention for resisting police [released]; 

Turgut Gambar detained August 18, 2016 (N!DA)- released; 

Aytac Ahmadova detained August 18, 2016 (journalist)- released;

Ilgar Valiyev detained August 18, 2016 (journalist)- released; 

Parviz hashimli detained August 18, 2016 (journalist, former political prisoner)- released but fined for "petty hooliganism" in the amount of 50AZN;

Fuad Ahmadli August 18, 2016 (Popular Front Party member)- accused of abuse of power; appeal on pre-trial detention is rejected on Aug 24. In addition Ahmadli was accused of Article 302 and 308 of the Criminal Code, violation of the criminal investigation activity and abuse of power respectively. Police also tried linking Ahmadli's case to Gulen investigations accusing him for providing Gulen network with personal information of mobile phone subscribers while Ahmadli worked as call center operator at Azerfon. 

Gadim Bakirov August 18, 2016 (Popular Front Party member)- sentenced to 25 days in administrative detention;

Vasif Fatiyev August 19, 2016 (Popular Front Party member) detained then released August 22; 

Samir Ibrahim August 20, 2016 (Musavat party member) detained then released the same day; 

Novruz Guluzade August 20, 2016 (Azerbaijan Nation Party)- detained then released the same day; 

Faig Amirli August 20, 2016 (Azadliq Newspaper, Finance director)- charged with Article 168 of the Criminal Code (violation of citizen's rights while performing religious activity); 

Ismayil Rasulov detained August 24, 2016 (Popular Front Party member)- sentenced to 30 days of administrative detention for resisting police (Rasulov is Karabakh war veteran); Released August 30 after public outcry to an arrest of war veteran;

Azadliq Newspaper does not print its new issue due to outstanding debt- August 28, 2016;

Mehman Huseynov August 29 (blogger)- detained, then released;  

Masud Asgar August 29 (N!DA activist)- detained, then released; 

Samir Asadli August 29 (N!DA activist)- detained, then released; 

*All three- Mehman, Masud and Samir were taken to the police after filming the conditions at the local hospital. Mehman is known for posting controversial videos exposing corruption, inequality and other social and economic problems across the country on his video channel. 

Also on August 29, it is two year anniversary since journalist Seymur Hezi's unlawful arrest; 

August 30, 2016- Movsum Samadov, political prisoner begins hunger strike in protest to proposed constitutional amendments and the upcoming referendum after which he is placed in penal isolation ward. 

Also on August 30, Freedom House launches new "#" dedicated to President Ilham Aliyev ahead of Referenedum: #desperate 

September 6, 2016- court in Baku extended pre-trial detention period of young activist Bayram Mammadov by additional two months. Mammadov was arrested in May on charges of drug posession;

Also on September 6, writer and author of numerous books Akram Aylisli was invited to the police as part of the on-going criminal case launched against him at the end of March of this year for alleged assault against government employee at Azerbaijan International Airport. 

September 8, 2016- former prosecutor Rufat Safarov who resigned as a sign of protest to the on-going corruption sentenced to 9 years in prison on bribery charges (Safarov's father happens to be one of the founder's of the ruling party);

Also on September 8, 2016, court in Baku began the hearing in the case of youth activist Giyas Ibrahimov. Ibrahimov was arrested in May on charges of drug possession together with Bayram Mammadov. However both men exposed torture and ill treatment during their detention in their detailed descriptions. The two were arrested after drawing graffiti on the statue of the late president Haydar Aliyev. 

September 9, 2016- Parliament plans to grant "investigators" rights to search without search warrants.

Also on September 9, police questioned editor in chief of opposition Azadliq newspaper Rahim Hajiyev. He is the fourth Azadliq newspaper staff to be questioned following questioning of Vidadi Mammadov, Khayal Babayev and editor Sujaddin Sharifov. 

Unlawful arrests, referendum and more in Aliyev's La La land

Remember the two youth activists detained in May in Azerbaijan? If you don't here is a story to freshen up your memory. The two men were detained unlawfully. There was no proof the two were allegedly drug users as police claimed. Not only were they detained unlawfully but they were also tortured, threatened with rape and not allowed to see their family members or the lawyer. 

It has now been more than two months since their detention and in these past two months they have only seen their family twice. In fact, only one, Giyas Ibrahimov was allowed to see his family even though by law they are allowed family visits once a week according to their lawyer. 

The lawyer also said that during medical examination on July 5 and 12, doctors concluded the two were clean of drugs and in fact there were no traces of any substance. 

Not surprisingly when the lawyer asked that the fingerprints found on drug packages "discovered" during the search were compared with fingerprints of the two youth activist, the court dismissed this request. 

Where does this leave us? For starers that neither Giyas nor Bayram are drug addicts. We have already known that Azerbaijan's judiciary is a shit-show and fair trial to activists, journalists, rights defenders is non existent. 

Their faith will be decided soon. I fear it won't be a good outcome. But then maybe the thought of acquiring more power via referendum will make the government officials forget about these two innocent gentlemen. 

After all, it is not an easy task to run a country especially if you fear you will be brought down by your very own "closed circle of special friends" who have been around you but you fear they have been around for far too long. Surely there is also the killing urge to stay in power for as long as possible, groom your children to become future presidents and so on. 

In fact, here are all proposed amendments to the constitution, for which Azerbaijan will hold a referendum on September 26. 

Please follow the link and read it online. 

Also in Aliyev's la la land are measures taken against Gulen establishments. A university, that is known for its quality education (unlike many other universities of Azerbaijan) was turned over to Baku Higher Oil School or simply put under the management of SOCAR (the State oil company). The university since 2013 was already under the management of Azerbaijan's International Education Center which was wounded by SOCAR. 

I wrote the following for Global Voices earlier about the matter: 

In 2014 when Erdogan went to Azerbaijan to visit President Ilham Aliyev, Azerbaijan promptly shut down a network of schools linked to Gulen that were regarded as some of the best in the country.

The management of 11 high schools, 13 university exam preparation centers and one private university was transferred to SOCAR, Azerbaijan's state oil company. Fast forward to July 18, 2016 and the pattern continues. After reportedly conferring with ally Erdogan, Aliyev decided to announce the closure of one of the country's few remaining bribe-free education establishments, the Caucasus University, which was founded by adherents of Gulen.

And last but not least one newspaper known for its ties with Gulen establishment was shut down while one TV channel's license was revoked after airing an interview with the cleric. 

Then there are banks and other business (unrelated to Gulen) but closing down as a result of the financial crisis. This time 4 more banks- Parabank, Zaminbank, Dekabank, Kredobank- had their license revoked. 

This all for now, until next update. 

Dispatches from Azerbaijan: European Parliament is bad, Mogherini is good, and more

Reading news feed from this morning, there was too much goodness not to share so in case you are sucker for real "good" news from Azerbaijan I suggest you stop reading right away. 

N!DA activists 

Let's start from two youth activists, members of N!DA movement who were detained May 10 and later charged with drug possession, after being beaten and tortured in detention. On June 2, while Amnesty International recognized Giyas Ibrahimov and Bayram Mammadov as "prisoners of conscience", the two despite it being almost a month are yet to see their families. Their lawyer thinks it is probably because police is trying to make sure their wounds have healed so their parents cannot spot how heavily they have been tortured or simply a way to pressure the young men. 

Mehdiyev's second diatribe 

Its been a while since last diatribe from the head of the Presidential Apparatus, Ramiz Mehdiyev. The last time he published a 60 page article, it was beginning of unprecedented crackdown [December 2014]. Then he wrote about western colonialism, lambasting Western players, in particular the US of double standards, biased approach and anti-Azerbaijan sentiment. This time [az], Mehdiyev wrote about West establishing world domination. He then goes into arguing that the only strong state system is possibly only in presidential administration system. According to Mehdiyev, it is the IMF, WB, WTO and other financial institutions that are directly responsible for violating state sovereignty [wonder if the man is out of touch with his people, because he does not seem to be objecting the government borrowing money from these institutions for various projects and initiatives]. 

But looks like it wasn't just Mehdiyev who decided to bash some "Westerners" this week. 

Ilham Aliyev on fire, but wrong time and wrong place 

 

Next in line for bashing was European Parliament. This time it was President Aliyev who was critical. "The adoption of unfounded resolutions full if insults served to cut Azerbaijani ties with the EP", said the president in a meeting with Norica Nicolai [Vice-Chair of the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe at the European Parliament, Eastern Partnership rapporteur for Azerbaijan] and Iveta Grigule [member of the European Parliament]. President Aliyev accused the president and vice president of the European Parliament of being part of anti-Azerbaijan forces. But not to worry because Norica Nicolai doesn't really respect people's rights and freedoms in Azerbaijan. She was one of the delegation members who traveled to Azerbaijan to observe Presidential elections in 2013 who issued a positive report in contrast to ODIHR. Nicolai was also featured in European Stability Initiative's report "Disgraced: Azerbaijan and the end of election monitoring as we know it". 

In 2015, Nicolai published an article where she wrote: 

It is also a country in a very delicate, yet so far stable, political situation. Dealing with its government has to be done according to local cultural customs and whatever action has to be backed with concrete policies. In other words, carrots are more useful than sticks in this region of the world. Sending their Government critical resolutions from the EP every year, without actually giving them any real reason to listen is at best, a pointless exercise.

Wondering what she meant by "local cultural customs". Perhaps the customs of violating elections and silencing critics? Maybe I get to ask this question to Ms. Nicolai when I get a chance to meet her in person but for now, lets assume her only best intentions. 

So Ilham Aliyev bashing EP to Nicolai and Grigule, who by the way happens to be no accidental guest and is also known for supporting Aliyev, wasn't really about bashing and more about wining. 

If you haven't had enough and still want more depressing news from Azerbaijan then I suggest watching this video. It is in Russian but it is about the detention and torture of two N!DA activists.  

But do not worry if even after that you still care to read a bit more, there is plenty of depressing news every day, just stay tuned, and I as always be sharing more with you here.

When rape and fear is your only weapon (part 2)

The atrocities committed in Azerbaijan's detention centers- this needs to be mailed to every single apologist of Azerbaijan in order for them to understand the kind of the regime they are applauding and wanting to keep around for the sake of "stability". 

"They chained my hands from behind and then started beating me with batons. They punched me with their fists and legs. And when I started screaming from pain they taped my mouth", recently detained youth activist Bayram Mammadov wrote in a letter that was passed by his lawyer.

"I was brought to the chief's room where 7 or 8 civilian dressed men were waiting for me. They punched me, they slapped me on the face. They were demanding I tell them why I drove that graffiti and who I was in cohorts with. They beat me continuously. I eventually lost consciousness, I couldn't hear anything from all the beating".

"When I told them I have never even seen drug substance, they told me they cannot just arrest me for drawing graffiti. This upset them so they beat me harder. They threatened me they would rape me with police baton. So I had to tell them I did use drugs. I did everything they told me and wrote a letter. Then they told me that if I apologize from the statue, lay flowers and do all of this in front AzTV cameras they would let me go".

"When I refused to do so they continued to beat me."

Apologise form the statue! Now!

May 10, the annual Flower Day celebrations/aka lets celebrate dead president's birthday event go by this year with not much grandiose and extravagant spending. 

Then police discovers graffiti on the statue of the dead president. "F*** the system" someone has written and then the annual quote "Happy Slave Holiday". In Azerbaijan flower means "gül" [gyul] and slave means "qul" [gool]. The slave variation became a popular expression soon after the Flower Day began to be celebrated in Azerbaijan. 

Millions of Manats were spent on each holiday with flowers imported from all over the world. One MP at some point said it cost the country 14-15millionAZN [before devaluation that was approximately the same amount of millions in EUR]. The flowers would be assembled in few parks. There were also concerts and fireworks. Sometimes I even wondered whether Baku Mayor was actually celebrating president's death. 

But back to 2016 and the missing N!DA activists. 

So the two activists went missing May 10. On May 11 their whereabouts were still unknown. 

May 12, we heard from them. The two were being prosecuted for illegal drug possession [not the first time we see this charge used against activists in Azerbaijan]. And as if charges and 4 months detention isn't enough, the two are actually told to go and apologize in front of the dead president's statue. So they are supposed to stand in front of the statue, with state TV cameras filming all of this theater and ask the statue to forgive them? Seriously?!

What I don't understand is that if their crime is drug possession then why are they even told to go and apologize in front of the statue anyway?

Well, this is of course a rhetorical question. We all know the answer. Because it is all theater of the absurd.

N!DA activists OUT, N!DA activists IN

If you at any point, thought release of Azerbaijan's 14 political prisoners, suspension of sentences of Intigam Aliyev, Rauf Mirkadirov and permission to leave Azerbaijan granted to couple Leyla and Arif Yunus by the regime in Baku was a sign of progress, you were deeply deeply mistaken. It was not. Perhaps a sign of back door diplomacy working wonders yes, perhaps a sign of exchange of favors yes, but certainly, definitely and with full assurance NOT a sign president Aliyev and his government has any intention to become good all of a sudden.

Why? Well lets start from a criminal case launched against Meydan TV shortly after president Aliyev returned from his successful trip to Washington DC. Then there was another notice- 15 journalists  named in the investigation case against Meydan TV. Several current political prisoners motions for release and/or house arrest were dismissed by local courts and so on. 

And just yesterday there were news of two N!DA activists being detained. Hours after their detention their whereabouts are not known, their family and friends have not heard of them. Why? Because the government of Azerbaijan can do it. Because there are no checks and balances and because they hate, literally despise anyone who stands out and commits any act of disobedience. 

Bayram Mammadov and Giyasaddin Ibrahim were detained allegedly for writing "Fuck the System!" [in English] and "Happy Slaves Day!" [In Azerbaijani "Qul Bayraminiz Mubarek" ahead of Gul Bayrami or Flower Day celebrations] on a statue of Heydar Aliyev. May 10 is celebrated as Flower Day but also as President Heydar Aliyev's birthday. Since 2009, the government spent millions on celebrating this holiday bringing in flowers from all over the world and throwing them away two days later. This year however, as a result of the escalation on the front line and deaths of Azerbaijani service men, there was a symbolic celebration planting flowers. 

Strangely while the government pays its respects to the military personnel it did not do the same when ten days before the first celebrations of the Flower Day in 2009 there was an attack at the State Oil Academy killing more than a dozen of students and professors according to official data. 

So where does this all leave us?! Well, where we see that nothing has really changed in Azerbaijan and that official Baku's revolving door policy used against its critics is very much alive. And if the government is so much about respecting the dead, then we should cancel Azerbaijan's participation in Eurovision song contest, the Formula 1 race, and all other upcoming celebrations until we resolve all our troubles. 

This of course is called wishful thinking...

Why Western decision makers cannot be silent anymore

A few days ago, I had the privilege to speak at UNHRC. Here is the full transcript from that event.

***

I last spoke here in Geneva, three months ago. And while I wish I could share with you the news about progress achieved on the ground since then, I cannot. 

Independent voices are still being muzzled while their families are used as bates by the local police to submit them into a state of desperateness- to force them into silence. 

Not all give into the intimidation. 

One of these brave individuals is Gunel Movlud, talented journalist, working for a dissident media outlet Meydan TV. She has seen it all- her parents disowning her and then her two brothers getting arrested, both being charged with drug possession. 

After their arrest, Movlud wrote:

 The arrest of my two brothers left my parents who are both battling with their health to death. Yes, I am afraid, of my family, my child, of my family getting ruined this way, of my life, of the life of my relatives. They can do anything. I am afraid and fear is absolutely normal. But I will continue my work even if I am afraid. This is not a sign of some bravery. It is just I cannot see myself live a different life. Those who cannot keep silent will continue to speak up. With love to all people with dignity! 

On December 22, 2015, one of her brothers was sentenced to one year in jail based on article 234.1 of the criminal code- possession of drugs. He left behind three kids, and two sick parents, one suffering from diabetes, the other form cancer. 

Just a few days ago, on March 7th, it was the three-year anniversary of 8 young men- at the time between 16 and 28 years of age- unjustly arrested, tried in a theater court, and then sentenced to jail to times ranging from 6 to 8 years. These young men were members of N!DA civic movement, a promising youth movement engaged in education, awareness raising, and grass roots youth development. These men were arrested shortly after the group organized a peaceful rally in 2013, demanding the government to investigate suspicious deaths of conscripts. 

Following their sentence, Khadija Ismayil, whom many of you here know and who herself is currently in jail serving 7.5 year sentence, wrote, 

Found guilty of being bright, intelligent, brave and honest.

Since their original arrest and sentence, four members of the movement were released, the rest remain in jail. 

And yes while I as a rights defender, and as a friend, should be happy that some of them were freed I cannot enjoy the joy and simply be thankful. Because these men should not have been sent to jail to begin with. But they did spend their treasured time inside, with criminals, subject to torture, intimidation, and humiliation of many kinds. And all of this was possible because the government of Azerbaijan wanted so, and the rest of us were unable to do anything to change this. 

There is nothing to be happy about. 

There is only a feel of shame and frustration that the government is getting away with these power games. 

I am not happy, because my friend Rashadat, who is one of the originally detained N!DA members, cannot reunite with his wife and his 3year old son because this right was taken away from him by some judge who was too busy implementing government orders to sentence my friend to 8 years and unaware of the damage this would have on Rashadat as well as his family. 

Just today (March 11), the appeal of Leyla and Arif Yunus to leave the country for medical treatment was denied. Following the court decision Leyla Yunus said, 

I am thankful to President Aliyev for releasing us from prison. We are alive but we also are not receiving any treatment. We can die any moment. 

This is why, I believe that the time for quiet diplomacy is over, the time to pat the government of Azerbaijan on its shoulder and congratulate the government each time one or two political prisoners are released is over. 

We have all seen it, it only encourages the Aliyev regime to put more people in prison- because at the end of the day, it can have both worlds- muzzled voices at home and international presence. 

Our hope as rights defenders, journalists, activists- is your power to push the right buttons. You have to understand, that each time a positive statement comes out of Europe or America, this is used against us at home as the government boasts about the “international” support it has. 

Most importantly you have to call the bluff of this regime- it has no intentions to improve so long as there is a soft approach to the country. We have country’s brightest, smartest, talented men and women in jail. We have a brain drain. We have an economic crisis. And look at the government- it continues to spend more and it continues to mistreat its people. It is clear that there is no intention to fix or change anything. 

Before my friend, Khadija Ismayil, was arrested she asked for no silent diplomacy. She wanted the government of Azerbaijan to be criticized openly and loudly. She did not give up her freedom, to see us- her friends, her colleagues, and the international community fail at fulfilling her call. 

I think it is time to really show people like Rasul Jafar, Seymur Hezi, Parviz Hashimli, Intigam Aliyev, Anar Mammadli, Ilgar Mammadov, and many others- that their efforts to build a society based on rights and freedoms were not wasted and that we can work together to overcome the division among the countries and their leaderships who are reluctant to act, or raise the criticism up a notch. I thank the Irish mission for their effort in keeping Azerbaijan on their agenda and I ask sincerely, other delegations sitting here today, to join their efforts. 

I ask you to do this, not as a rights defender, or a journalist, or an activist but as an Azerbaijani citizen, desperate to see some hope and see my friends released from jail. 

Thank you!

Celebrating 20th birthday behind bars!

Today Omer Mammadov turns 20 years old. But unlike many 20 year olds he wont be celebrating his birthday with friends and family. He will be celebrating it in jail, behind bards, with his cell mates. This is how President Aliyev and his government is punishing its active, educated and bright youth. By locking them up in jail for extended sentences and keeping them there for as long as he can.

Mammadov, was sentenced in May of 2014 to five years in prison. His crime? Using his right to free speech and association calling on the people of Azerbaijan to come together and stand up against authoritarian leadership of Aliyev and abuse of conscripts in the army.

Mammadov isn’t the only one sentenced that month. Together with six other members, he received a lengthy sentence, the longest being 8 years. Along with the rest of the group Omer, was arrested in 2013. All men represented N!DA youth movement – a civic movement founded in early 2011 by young people calling for democracy and social changes in Azerbaijan.

There was one more activist, whose trial took place together with N!DA activists. Ilkin Rustamzade, was member of another youth movement but joined N!DA following his arrest.

Amnesty International recognized all eight arrested men as prisoners of conscience.

In October 2014 two of them – Shahin Novruzlu and Bakhtiyar Guliyev were pardoned in a presidential pardoning decree. In December 2014, two more – Uzeyir Mammadli and Zaur Gurbanli were released.

The rest, including young Omer remain in jail. 
Thank you Mr. President! You really do value your youth! 

Bu gün  Nida VH -ın  üzvü ,vicdan məhbusu Ömər Məmmədovun doğum günüdür. #OmarMammadov20 pic.twitter.com/GFlQZjmGma
— N!DA VH (@nidavh) February 25, 2015

Public diplomacy and freedom of speech in Azerbaijan...pending arrest (updated)

09:05: As of early hours of this morning Leyla Yunus husband is in intensive care and Mrs. Yunus was giving statement (questioned) at the prosecutor general office. Yunus was meant to meet with France's president Francoius Hollande on his visit to Azerbaijan on May 17th. She believes this detention is to prevent her from this meeting. Sounds like Emin Milli's arrest when he was meant to translate for the German Ombudsman Gunter Nooke in 2009.

01:37: here is another update in English. No news yet though Yunus herself believes its in close relation to her work in peace diplomacy.

22:55: According to the lawyer Khalid Baghirov (who is also overlooking the case of Mirkadirov) who is currently at the airport he hasn't seen the couple. The lawyer says the law enforcement agents are "conducting" search of their luggage and will then search their apartment.

Which could mean a whole new set of things: like finding books of certain nature for instance like they found in the apartment search of young NIDA activists. There is just no limits to what Azerbaijani government can do. It is as simple as that.

***
If you haven't heard about the case of Rauf Mirkadirov, Azerbaijan journalist based in Turkey, deported and then arrested and charged with espionage then here is an article for you to get the picture. 

Mirkadirov, isn't just a well known journalist writing for many years for the Russian daily Zerkalo. He is also a known name in the circles of people to people diplomacy advocates. 

He is accused of transferring some kind of "secret" information and photographs- in a nutshell, state secrets of some sort- and is currently in a three month pre- trial detenion facing a possible sentence of 10 years. 

Just now [AZ] I am reading that another well known human rights advocate Leyla Yunus is detained together with her husband Arif Yunus as the couple was leaving the country for Doha. While according to the news several foreign diplomats were able to get the couple through the customs, they were stopped from boarding the plane. 

The couple is also outspoken on the public diplomacy and has taken part in many meetings. The nature of these recent arrests is troublesome as this could mean a number of things starting from a new type of measure of Azerbaijan government to silence its critics but also show its disinterest in the dialogue with its neighbor Armenia. Surely this could mean other things but the bottom line is clear- Azerbaijani authorities relentlessly punishing free voices. Already there are several journalists, advocates, political figures and bloggers in jail not to mention 8 young men who have voiced their concerns about the political and social situation in the country and are now facing trumped up charges. 

So do all those apologists of Azerbaijani government still consider it a democracy? They probably do, no doubt but many others who see the real situation should raise their voices and concerns! This is not an acceptable!

N!DA

They are on their 9th day of hunger strike.

Number eight

Dedicated to 8 young men currently facing jail time. For what? For speaking their mind! For being young and for doing what they believe in! They have been on a hunger strike as a sign of protest but it has done little to change the wicked orders. This is yet another disgusting attempt by the authorities to silence the country's future- its youth.

***

why do you hate?

for what, oh please be kind and reiterate

and please tell me there is an expiration date

on that deep, disgusting hate!

is it for freedom of one's mind?

or your jealousy of an existence of such mankind?

don't worry the day will come for you to find

the punishment for suffering you've mastermind

but till then lets evaluate your hate

oh yes, that's filthy, gross and nasty state

so let's begin with who you are?

a snake? awaiting for your bait?

that sounds just about right

a snake-that bites at day and night

who else you are?

no, no, you are a madman sucked in hate

and all you care about is large estate

living a life in that presumptuous state

you are a truly snake, with venom ready not just for 8

despite you knowing their innocence

you bite right through them without any wait

just like a vicious snake would readily disarm its bate

but not to worry, there is a cure even for your hate

there is this thing called justice gate

and soon you too will hit its door

and there you'll see the sadness you've deplored

the pain you have imposed upon

the lies you've fed, not once

and not just to innocent number 8

but to the millions of this country's men

We are on hunger strike- statement by N!DA activists

Below is the text from the statement of N!DA activists who are facing prison terms from 6.5 to 8.5 years. These young men were arrested on trumped up charges and are on hunger strike together with their parents. 

WE ARE ON HUNGER STRIKE / STATEMENT
We, 8 persons prosecuted connected to the prominent Nida case as a result of repressions started against Nida Civic Movement on 7 March 2013, are in prison. Our interrogation for a few hours during 7 months of preliminary investigation and humour spectacle called “court” has proven that, we are in prison as a consequence of a political order, for exercising our rights. The fact that, throughout half a year of the court proceedings our petitions have been turned down, testimonies and objects, which cannot be considered as proofs are being considered as such, shows that, tough accusation judgment is expected against us. Today’s demand of the public prosecutor to sentence us for prison term of between 6.5 and 8.5 years is a proof for that. We are starting a hunger strike with demand of our release protesting this political discrimination and repression. If we approach this issue more realistically, we consider that, the authorities are not going to confess that, the process, which has been going on for more than a year is politically motivated, and will not acquit us. Therefore, we suggest the authorities to show political will and release us from prison through any method. Our aim is to achieve freedom through peaceful means - eternal method of Nida.

We have taken all the possible harms into account. We are strong and resolute. We believe that, we will get our freedom.
undersigned:

Shahin Novruzlu
Mammad Azizov
Bakhtiyar Guliyev
Rashad Hasanov
Uzeyir Mammadli
Rashadat Akhundov
Zaur Gurbanlı
Ilkin Rustamzada

And here is another letter written by one of the young men- Rashadat Akhundov:

Dear friends,

We have started hunger strike since yesterday, April 17th. Our decision is a serious one. We ask of you and our parents not to request of us to halt of the strike. In any case, such a request will be refused. This is a new phase of the moral and dignified struggle for your and our freedom. Perhaps it is the last phase for us. Since either they have to set us free, or we will leave this place as dead corpses. There is no other way. This is our only demand.

We love you all.

Rashadat Akhundov,

prisoner of conscience

To help these eight young men, you can sign the following petition.