PACE awards annual Havel Prize to Azeri activist

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has awarded its annual Vaclav Havel Human Rights Prize to jailed Azerbaijani human rights activist Anar Mammadli, RFE/RL reported.

Mammadli was chosen over two other finalists: Israel's B'tselem, which defends the rights of both Israelis and Palestinians, and the Malta Branch of the international Jesuit Refugee Service, a group that defends the rights of asylum seekers.

The $79,000 prize, now in its second year, aims to reward outstanding civil sociey action in the defense of human rights.

Mammadli's prize was accepted on his behalf by his father as the activist serves a 5 1/2 year prison term, which began in May.

Mammadli's father, Asaf Mammadov, relayed a message to the PACE assembly from his son, saying, "Anar says that this prize constitutes a big boost of moral strength and a show of solidarity not just for him and the organization of which he is a member, but to all currently detained right defenders.

"Anar would like to assure his colleagues and Europe that the latest wave of political repressions will not undermine the believe in the victory of human rights shared by him and other political prisoners. Anar says that although the movement for human rights has been weakened in [Azerbaijan], there is no other option but to continue on this path."

Mammadli is founder of the Baku-based Election Monitoring and Democracy Studies Center (EMDS), which promotes democratic institutions and civil and political rights.

He was imprisoned on charges of illegal entrepreneurship, tax evasion, and abuse of official authority with grave consequences in a trial widely seen as a reaction to EMDS's critical assessment of Azerbaijan's presidential election in 2013.

Bakudaily.Az