CEU Alumnus celebrates his birthday in prison

Today is the second year that RashadatAkhundov, 31, celebrates his birthday in prison. It won’t likely be his last. In 2014, Rashadat was sentenced to eight years imprisonment by the authoritarian regime of Azerbaijan’s IlhamAliyev.

You might actually know Rashadat—he graduated with an MBA from the CEU Business School in 2007. After CEU he returned to Azerbaijan, first working at a bank and then as a financial analyst for British Petroleum (BP) in Baku.

But why is Rashadat behind bars? Rashadat was sentenced for organizing and participating in “mass protests” accompanied by violence, as well as for keeping illegal firearms and explosives. However, Amnesty International claims that these charges are unsubstantiated. The only evidence presented against Rashadat was his membership in NIDA, an Azerbaijani youth organization advocating for a free society and civic engagement. In May 2014, Rashadat and seven others were sentenced to terms of six to eight years. Amnesty International has declared all eight of these young men “prisoners of consciousness,” who represent only a fraction of nearly 100 political prisoners in Azerbaijan today.

Rashadat had long worked for a free and democratic Azerbaijan, criticizing human rights violations, corruption and election fraud. In January 2013, a scandal erupted in Azerbaijan over the death of an 18-year-old army conscript who, as his mother claimed, had been beaten to death. Rashadat and his friends launched the Facebook page "Stop Conscript Deaths,"which called for peaceful demonstrations. Within days, the page had around 17,000 people stating that they would attend the protest. On March 10 some thousand people gathered, but were dispersed by the police with water cannons and rubber bullets. Nearly 90 participants were arrested, many of whom were beaten in custody. Some of the detained NIDA activists were apparently tortured in order to force them to confess. ShahinNovruzlu (17 years old at the time of his arrest) was missing four of his front teeth when he first appeared in court. Another NIDA member, MammadAzizov, lost hearing in one of his ears as a result of ill-treatment in custody. Their complaints of torture have not been investigated.

 

Rashadat was arrested on March 30 in connection with organizing this protest,and has been in prison ever since. This has been particularly difficult on his family.When the prosecutor in September 2014 added new charges to Rashadat’s indictment, his 74-year old grandfathers lashed his wrists in front of the prosecutor’s office. He died a day later.

Before the final sentencing on May 6, 2014, Rashadat and several of his fellows went on a hunger strike for 20 days to protest against their treatment. Many of the prisoners’ parents joined in the strike. However, these efforts did little to deter the court’s decision.

“Verdict is announced”, tweeted Radio Free Europe journalist Khadija Ismayilova on 6 May. “Democracy activists from Nida! Civic Union are sentenced for exercising their right of freedom of assembly: Rashadat Akhundov = 8 years; Zaur Gurbanli = 8 years; Ilkin Rustemzade = 8 years; Bakhtiyar Guliyev = 7 years; Mammad Azizov = 7.5 years; Rashad Hasanov = 7.5 years; Uzeyir Mammadli = 7 years; Shahin Novruzlu = 6 years.” In December, Khadija was arrested herself.

This is just a brief look into the life of a CEU alumnus, and his colleagues, who are living their lives behind bars. Those who have not been imprisoned are in hiding or have fled the country due to threats to them and their beloved. As a result of the constant crackdowns, there is truly no independent civil society in Azerbaijan any more.

Azerbaijan is both a member of the Council of Europe (CoE) and the EU’s Eastern Partnership. One would expect European diplomats to fight for freedom and an open society within a CoE member state. But so far the reaction to political repression in Azerbaijan has been mild – EU diplomats have not gone beyond statements of concern—Azerbaijan evenchaired the CoE in 2014.

What can we possibly do? For one, CEU stands for the values of an open society. When you speak to any European policymakers, mention Rashadat and the 100 other political prisoners in Azerbaijan. They should demand their immediate release.

You can also write to Rashadat. His family told us that he appreciates these letters very much. Many prisoners feel that they are forgotten, so any letter or postcard really boosts prisoner morale. Please contact the authors if you would like to write him.

You could also write to the Azerbaijani authorities and demand Rashadat’s release–such letters add to the pressure. The addresses are:

Executive Administration of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

The Presidential Palace

Istiglaliyyat str. 19

Baku City AZ 1066

Republic of Azerbaijan

Fax: (0099412) 492 35 43, 492 06 25

E-mail: office@pa.gov.az

Fikrat F. Mammadov,Minister of Justice

Ministry of Justice

Inshaatchilar Ave. 1,

Baku City

Republic of Azerbaijan

Fax: (99412) 538-08-57

Email: contact@justice.gov.az, international@justice.gov.az

If you would like to write to Rashadat, learn more or even join the effort to free political prisoners in Azerbaijan, e-mail Nataliya Novakova and SamanSardar, the CEU students in charge of the project: Novakova_nataliya@spp.ceu.edu, sardar_saman@spp.ceu.edu

Nataliya Novakova and SamanSardar

School of Public Policy (SPP)