Imprisoned Azeri activists on hunger strike amid Eurovision fussMay 16, 2012 - 18:43 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Twelve jailed Azerbaijani opposition activists have started a hunger strike to coincide with the upcoming Eurovision song contest, Azerbaijan’s Public Chamber opposition movement said on Wednesday, May 15, RIA Novosti reported. The protesters are demanding freedom for all "political prisoners" in Azerbaijan who they say have been illegally arrested or convicted. Eurovision will begin on May 22 and the finals will be held on May 26 in Azerbaijan's capital Baku . The prisoners chose to make their protest during the event to draw attention to their campaign. The jailed activists were convicted for participation in an unsanctioned opposition meeting in Baku on April 2, 2011. The protesters, from several opposition parties and movements, demanded democratic reforms and new parliamentary elections in the country. The meeting was violently dispersed by local riot police. Amnesty International rights group has called the twelve inmates "prisoners of conscience." Public Chamber also plan to stage protest campaigns during Eurovision in a bid to attract public attention to human rights violation in Azerbaijan. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Lemkin Institute petition seeks release of Armenians in Azerbaijan The Lemkin Institute is deeply concerned about the continued illegal detention of political prisoners from Karabakh in Azerbaijan. Armenian Catholicos calls for national unity against threats Karekin II issued a message on Republic Day marking the anniversary of the First Armenian Republic. Pashinyan: Armenia’s desired goal is “on the horizon” Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said that Armenia is moving forward “without interruption”. Opposition leader, supporters spend night at Sardarapat memorial Police made nearly 300 arrests the day before as Galstanyan and his supporters continued to demonstrate in Yerevan. |