08 October 2020, 09:40
Gezyal Bairamly, Azerbaijani political prisoner, dies
Gezyal Bairamly, a famous politician and a former political prisoner, has died in Azerbaijan after a grave illness. Her colleagues and supporters are sure that her imprisonment had aggravated the disease.
The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on January 23, 2018, Ms Bairamly was sentenced to three years in prison within a smuggling case. In March 2019, she was pardoned by presidential decree.
Gezyal Bairamly was arrested in May 2017 upon her return from Georgia. According to Azerbaijani border guards, undeclared USD 12,000 was seized from her. The defence claimed that the state of her health in custody had seriously deteriorated.
Gezyal Bairamly, a deputy chair of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA) and a member of the coordination centre of the National Council of Democratic Forces (NCDF), had fought her cancer for a long time, the PFPA has reported.
Ms Bairamly took part in the national democratic movement since the 1980s.
"Gezyal Bairamly devoted her life to the struggle for democracy and freedom of Azerbaijan. She selflessly spoke out against bureaucratic arbitrariness and was a brave human rights defender. For this she was subjected to pressure, threats and deprivation," Ali Kerimli, the PFPA leader, has stated.
Djamil Gasanli, the head of the NCDF, has also noted the Bairamly's significant role in the democratic movement of Azerbaijan.
This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on October 8, 2020 at 03:53 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.
Author: Faik Medjid Source: CK correspondent
