Vidadi Isgandarov

Vidadi Isgandarov is an Azerbaijani human rights activist and politician.[1]

Vidadi Isgandarov
NationalityAzerbaijani
Occupationactivist
Known for2012 imprisonment

Isgandarov stood unsuccessfully for office in the 2010 Azerbaijani parliamentary election representing the rayons of Agdash and Goychay.[2] In November 2010, the government of Azerbaijan opened a criminal investigation of Isgandarov for "prevention of voting rights by threatening, using force" (article 159.4.1 of the Criminal Code) and "interfering or influencing the work of the election commissions by threatening, using force or threatening to use force" (article 160.2.1 of the Criminal Code).[3] According to Amnesty International, the charges were later dropped due to lack of evidence, but were reinstated in May 2011, one month after Isgandarov was arrested at an anti-government rally on 17 April.[1] After the rally, he was sentenced to fifteen days' administrative imprisonment for an "attempt to hold protest action".[4]

A new arrest warrant was issued for Isganadarov on 3 May 2011, one day after he was scheduled to be released from detention.[5] On 27 August, Isganadarov was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for the vote-tampering charges. Amnesty protested the sentence and designated him a prisoner of conscience.[1] The Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe also wrote to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev calling for Isganadarov's immediate release.[6] The International Federation for Human Rights condemned the sentence as part of a pattern of "constant judicial harassment".[7]

References
  1. "Amnesty International Annual Report 2012 - Azerbaijan". Amnesty International. 24 May 2012. Archived from the original on 16 April 2013. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
  2. Shahriyar Alizadeh (2 May 2011). "Vidadi Isgandarov's prosecution reinstated". Azeri Press Agency. Archived from the original on 18 August 2012. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
  3. Hafiz Heydarov (29 November 2010). "Prosecutor General's Office confirms report about launch of criminal case on election irregularities in Goychay-Aghdash ConEC #89". Azeri Press Agency. Archived from the original on 18 August 2012. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
  4. Shahriyar Alizadeh (18 April 2011). "Vidadi Isgandarov sentenced for 15-day imprisonment". Azeri Press Agency. Archived from the original on 18 August 2012. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
  5. "Arrest warrant about former candidate to Azerbaijani parliament issued". news.az. Azeri Press Agency. 3 May 2011. Archived from the original on 18 August 2012. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
  6. Georges Albert-Dal (31 May 2011). "Concerns regarding human rights lawyer Mr Vidadi Isganderov" (PDF). Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 August 2012. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
  7. "Deteriorating human rights situation in Azerbaijan" (PDF). International Federation for Human Rights. May 2012. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 August 2012. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
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