31 March 2007, 22:37
Hunger strike of life prisoners continues in Azerbaijan
In Azerbaijan, a group of inmates of the Gobustan closed prison continue their hunger strike commenced on Monday, March 26. Currently, there are 14 hunger-strikers who demand revision of the live sentences.
All the protesters demand that their old death sentences be replaced with 15 years of imprisonment. Some inmates also demand cancellation of the 25-year "tariff" term for the conditional early release from life imprisonment, which breaks the resolution of Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. Others protest against excessive isolation of life prisoners from the society, against the absence of sports and jobs, referring to the recommendations of the above body.
Author: Zaur Rasulzade, CK correspondent
