Chiefs of Azerbaijani Ministry of Justice promise to transfer satirist Mirza Sakit to another colony

The picket to take place today at 4:00 p.m. in front of the Ministry of Justice and organized by human rights activists and journalists in defence of the rights of the imprisoned satirist Mirza Sakit, journalist of the "Azadlyg" (Freedom) newspaper, is postponed.

The reason for cancelling the picket is in today's meeting of human rights activists Chingiz Ganizade, Elchin Bekhbudov, Sakhib Mamedov, Saida Godzhamanly, Novella Dzhafaroglu and Arzu Abdullaeva with the Minister of Justice Fikret Mamedov.

The human rights activist Ganizade has reported at today's press conference held at the Institute for Reporters' Freedom and Safety (IRFS) that during the meeting they discussed the issue of beating satirists Mirza Sakit at the Penitentiary Establishment No. 14.

According to Mr Ganizade, the Minister has assured that this information will be seriously investigated.

Minister Mamedov has recognized, according to the human rights activist, that the fact of beating the prisoner is a blow on the image of the Ministry of Justice and guilty persons will be punished.

Besides, the Minister has agreed to transfer Sakit into another penitentiary establishment and assured that it would take place in the near future.

However, at that very time, when human rights activists were meeting the Minister, Sakit's advocate was not allowed to meet his client at the Penitentiary Establishment No. 14.

Chingiz Ganizade has treated this fact as an offence. During the press conference he telephoned to the respective officials of the Ministry of Justice and expressed his remarks.

The human rights activists have also declared that they will stand for Mirza Sakit's early release after he has served 2/3 of his term of imprisonment.