Welcome for release of Azerbaijani opposition leader

5.21.31pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 20th Oct 2005

Sarah Ludford MEP meets exiled opposition leader Rasul Guliev

Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP, European justice spokeswoman for the British Liberal Democrats, has welcomed the release of Rasul Guliev, Azerbaijani opposition leader and former parliament speaker detained in the Ukraine.

Mr Guliev was imprisoned under an international arrest warrant when his Azerbaijan-bound plane was refused access and diverted on Monday. But a Ukrainian Court has judged his detention to have been politically motivated and therefore unlawful. Sarah Ludford said:

"It is reassuring that Ukraine has acted to uphold the rule of law by releasing Mr Guliev. They have correctly discerned the political motives behind the Azeri move, ahead of parliamentary elections for which Mr Guliev wishes to return."

Azeri President Ilham Aliyev today declared that his government viewed Mr Guliev as "a criminal," making it likely that he will be arrested as soon as he returns to Baku. Sarah Ludford added:

"The EU must make it clear that any further attempt on the part of the Azeri government to prevent Mr Guliev from returning to Azerbaijan, or otherwise obstruct the forthcoming elections, would have very serious consequences."

"I will continue to press Jack Straw and European Commissioner Benita Ferrero Waldner to monitor the situation in Azerbaijan, and to act forcefully should they find evidence that democratic elections are being blocked."

Notes

Baroness Sarah Ludford has been campaigning for Mr Guliev's release, and for free and fair elections in Azerbaijan. For further information please go to:

http://www.sarahludfordmep.org.uk/news/550.html

http://www.sarahludfordmep.org.uk/news/552.html

The European Commission is due to make a statement on the Azerbaijani elections at the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Wednesday 26th October 2005; Baroness Ludford hopes to speak in that debate.

Rasul Guliev is a major opposition figure in Azerbaijan. He has been living in exile in the United States since the mid 1990's. Previous elections in Azerbaijan have been marred by large-scale fraud, and recent opposition protests have been broken up by police brutality.