Today, at IRFS press center, a former political prisoner Eynulla Fatullayev held a press conference to speak about creation of Public Union “for Human Rights”. He gave information to event participants on aims of creation of the organization.

Journalist stated that he decided to create the organization after talking with a military serviceman’s family. “Some days ago, a relative of a military serviceman who was arrested by National Security Ministry (NSM) appealed to me. As the NSM had violated all procedures of arrest, his family was thinking that he was missing. I receive multiple appeals every day. Therefore, I decided to create public movement for protection of rights of persons whose rights are violated. I have already submitted relevant documents for the Justice Ministry and sent copies of the documents to the Council of Europe. I called on persons whose rights are violated to join this movement” said Fatullayev. He also said that he has rented an office for movement.
Fatullayev also said that he will not only be dealing with protection of human rights, but he will also deal with journalism.  He added that he will pay a visit to Nakhchivan together with journalist Idrak Abbasov in coming weeks. Fatullayev also informed that serious measures are taken to restore the operation of Realniy Azerbaijan and Gundelik Azerbaijan newspapers in the nearest future.
Fatullayev says that negotiations are underway with five donors on restoration of the activities of the newspapers and it is expected that funds will be allocated to start operating.
He also said he had received an invitation from the British Pen Club to visit London soon. During the trip, Fatullayev plans to focus on the state of human rights and political prisoners in Azerbaijan. He said that the book “PEN-club writers in 5 years” published by Pen Club, of which he is a member, included him in the list of well-known political dissidents of the world.  
BACKGROUND
On the 29th of December, 2009, 0.223 grams of heroin was reportedly found on Fatullayev in Prison #12 and on the 6th of July, 2010, Fatullayev was found guilty under article 234.1 ( possession of narcotics) of the Criminal Code. His sentence of two years and six months in prison began on the same date. His appeal against the decision was rejected.
In 2007, Eynulla Fatullayev, editor-in-chief of “Realniy Azerbaydjan” and “Gundelik Azerbaycan” newspapers, was sentenced to 8.5 years in jail for threatening terrorism, amongst other charges. However, on April 22, 2010, the European Court of Human Rights ruled for his immediate release and financial compensation from the Azerbaijani government (27,800 EUR). The Azerbaijani Supreme Court Plenum has only partially fulfilled the decision.