Khadija Ismayilova meets with her lawyer today
December 12, Khadija Ismayilova's lawyer, Yalchin Imanov was able to meet her.
In an interview with Azadliq Radio, Imanov said Khadija is "in good spirits. She said hi to everyone. Said, not to worry about her. She also asked me to thank all the friends involved in her defense".
Imanov added that although the meeting itself went without complications, he had some difficulties before and after the meeting.
The lawyers of political prisoners receive an additional search in prison. "When they asked to go through my notes after the meeting with Khadija I refused. We ended up arguing because of this unreasonable search".
Former US Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Richard Kauzlarich says it is time to consider sanctions on Baku
On December 12, the former U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan Richard Kauzlarich, now Director at the Center for Energy Science and Policy at George Mason University and David Kramer, Senior Director for Human Rights and Human Freedom at the McCain Institute called on the government of Azerbaijan to release "political prisoners and stop repressions agains the regime's opponents." The event in DC was organized by Azerbaijani Americans for Democracy, the Washington based pro-democracy gruop.
Richard Kuzlarich:
"I want to press for the release of Khadija Ismayilova, Leyla and Arif Yunus, and the more than 90 political prisoners still being held in Azerbaijan."
"If we decide to stay true to our values and continue to support the release of people like Khadija, Leyla, Arif and the others, then we need to think what we should do in pursuit of that. We need to stay with our European friends and make sure this is a Western effort, both to press diplomatically and in public statements for the release of the political prisoners. We need to make clear to the government in Baku about the expectations for behavior, consistent with the international obligations that Azerbaijan undertook of its own free will with the Council of Europe and the United Nations."
"If this [pressuring Baku diplomatically] does not work, I think it is time to consider what David [Kramer] suggested and what others are talking about, and that is sanctions that show to the government that there are consequences that go with the continued violation of human rights."
David Kramer, Senior Director for Human Rights and Human Freedom at the McCain Institute :
"The situation has gotten significantly worse. Political prisoners now -- I realize there's some debate about the count -- but I think it's safe to say now over a hundred, which was mentioned is double what Belarus and Russia have. And yet we have sanctions against both the Lukashenka and Putin regimes for human rights abuses, and we don't have anything in place to deal with the Aliyev regime."
"It seems to me that at a minimum we should be taking the approach of urging all European political leaders to stay away from these games [2015 European Games in Baku], as most did at the Sochi games earlier this year in February. Denying Aliyev the opportunity to stand on center stage with political leaders would be a blow to his image."
"The health of Leyla Yunus and her husband is of great concern, and that's why pressing for the release and also full political rehabilitation of people who have been arrested and imprisoned is absolutely vital. It is reaching a point now of life and death."
A group of Croatian NGO activists demonstrated in front of Azeri embassy in Zagreb. They had photographs of all well known Azerbaijan human rights activist who are in prison. Demonstrations were focused on Khadija ismayilova and they were asking freedom for her and for other people. They wanted to give a letter to the ambassador, but nobody opened the door. So they put the letter with their request in the mail-box. (RFE/RL Balkan Service)
We need 2build a new reality where truth will be a norm of life #KhadijaIsmayil letter 2colleagues atAzadliq Radio http://t.co/bHLw86XAMs
— Arzu Geybulla (@arzugeybulla) 13.12.2014