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Minister for Europe David Lidington condemned the sentence of Ganja court in connection with the Azerbaijani NGO of leader Hasan Huseynli. The statement is published on the official site of the British embassy.

“I note with great disappointment the sentencing of Ganja-based NGO leader Hasan Huseynli to six years on hooliganism related charges,” the statement reads.

The document also notes that in recent years the British Embassy Baku has worked closely with Mr Huseynli on projects designed to promote social entrepreneurship and strengthen female participation in civil society. Huseynli joins a growing number of civil society activists sentenced to lengthy prison terms.

“I again call on Azerbaijan to address concerns felt by many about the increasingly worrying trend of detentions and prison sentences which appear to be politically motivated,” reads the statement of the minister.

On 14 July, the Nizami Court of Ganja City sentenced the head of the NGO Center for Civic Education Intellectual, Hasan Huseynli. He was found guilty of disorderly conduct, illegal possession of cold weapon and sentenced to six years' imprisonment. The human rights defenders are sure the true cause of Huseynli’s prosecution is the concern of the authorities with high influence of Huseynli on local youth that ignores formal events, preferring to meet with the human rights activist.

Azerbaijani Institute for Peace and Democracy (IPD) published a list of political prisoners existing in the country. Thus, as of May 21, 2014 there are 130 victims of political repression in Azerbaijan: 41 prisoners of conscience and 89 political prisoners.