15 April 2005, 17:13
Opposition leaders want their rights back
Opposition leaders arrested during the 15-16 October 2003 events in Azerbaijan held a meeting of the 16 October Movement that had been set up when they had been in prison. The meeting involved Rauf Arifoglu, editor-in-chief of Yeni Musavat newspaper; Arif Gajiev, deputy chairman of the Musavat party; Ibrahim Ibrahimli, deputy chairman of the Musavat party; Igbal Agazade, chairman of the Umid ("Hope") party; Panah Huseinov, former chairman of the People's Party; Etimad Asadov, chairman of the Nagorno-Karabakh Invalids Society; and Sardar Jalaloglu, secretary general of the Democratic Party.
The meeting discussed the socio-political situation in the country, restoration of the suffrage of those convicted in connection with the 15-16 October 2003 events and an application to the European Court of Human Rights with regard to that, as well as the charter of the movement, a plan of action, etc.
The opposition leaders were yesterday received by Reno L. Harnish, US Ambassador to Azerbaijan. The ambassador observed during the meeting he would continue the campaign to restore their rights for them to take part in the upcoming parliamentary election.
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Author: Zaur Rasulzade, CK correspondent