
(Photo: Index on Censorship

Protesters held a vigil in front of the Azerbaijan embassy in London to call for the release for political prisoners in the country. (Photo: Index on Censorship)
In the past six months, as Azerbaijan chaired the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers, authorities unleashed an unprecedented crackdown on civil society, including the imprisonment of human rights defenders and political activists. Others have been forced into hiding.
- Anar Mammadli, election monitor and this year’s Václav Havel Human Rights Prize recipient
- Leyla Yunus, justice advocate who was awarded the French Legion of Honour in 2013, and her husband Arif Yunus,
- Rasul Jafarov, campaigner who has criticised Azerbaijan at the Council of Europe and, together with Leyla Yunus, compiled a list of political prisoners in Azerbaijan,
- Intigam Aliyev, human rights lawyer who has criticised Azerbaijan at the Council of Europe.
Platform London will be holding other demonstrations at 5pm everyday this week.
- Tuesday 18 November BP’s HQ – 1 St James’ Sq – 5pm
- Wednesday 19 November – Uk Foreign and Commonwealth Office on King Charles Street – 5pm
- Thursday 20 November – the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, 1 Exchange Square (by Liverpool st) – 5pm
- Friday 21 November – the International Olympic Committee – 60 Charlotte Street