Subject: ALL: Open Letter from the Committee for the Defense of the Rights of Abulfaz Elchibey

Dear Readers,

We are looking for others to sign the following statement.
Please write to  if you support the letter.

***********************

#1. Open Letter from the Committee for the Defense of the Rights of Abulfaz
Elchibey

On December 12 1998, Abulfaz Elchibey, the first democratically elected
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan was charged with insulting the
honor and dignity of the President under Article 188-6 of the Criminal Code
of Azerbaijan. The charges stem from November 6th Press Conference, during
which Mr. Elchibey mentioned the connections between the creation of the
Kurdish Workers Party (PKK) and the Soviet KGB, an organization in which
Mr. Heidar Aliev held the rank of general during the 1960- 70`s.

Mr. Elchibey has been prohibited from leaving Baku, and is subjected to
lengthy interrogations and the threat of arrest. Government actions such as
these are elements of the continuing campaign against Mr. Elchibey and the
democratic opposition, who have been harassed and persecuted by Aliev's
government since the coup d'etat of 1993.

We appeal to governments, to non-governmental organizations and to all
people who hold dear  the ideas of democracy and freedom to call for the
end of the systematic and calculated harassment of Mr. Elchibey and the
intimidation of the democrats.  No country that represses its citizens and
denies them basic human rights can evolve to prosperity and independence.

* The Public Committee for the  Defense of the Rights of Abulfaz Elchibey.
      Chairman of the Committee:    Vagif Bayatli Oner, poet.

Please contact,
Fax: (+99412) 405296, 626713, 985794 in Baku or
send email to  to show your support.

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