Hilal Mamedov awarded the Prize named after Isakhan Ashurov

On 29 March 2013 in an office of the EL Movement held presenting of the Prize named after Isakhan Ashurov, established by the Institute of Peace and Democracy.

The award was established on June 23, 2012 after the death of Ashurov. It will be awarded to citizens to become active in the protection of human rights and the rule of law.

The first prize named after Isakhan Ashurov was awarded the human rights activist and editor of “Tolyshi sado” newspaper, Hilal Mammadov imprisoned on accusation of treason, inciting ethnic hatred, drug possession.

The award, a statuette of Themis, was awarded to the defender of the editor, a lawyer Ramiz Mammadov in the presence of his family.

On ceremony of awarding the Director of the IMD, Leyla Yunus noted, that a choice of the winner was not easy; the candidatures of lawyers and human rights defenders were considered. However, the final choice was made in favor of Mammadov, who is in the most difficult situations. Yunus expressed a hope that in the future the icon of the winner will decorate breasts of other lawyers and human rights activists, who selflessly fight for human rights.

Speaking about the importance Ashurov, Yunus said that he was an officer of honor, defending the country against external and internal enemies. Yunus regretted that the authorities prevented the ceremony, and many five-star hotels refused to provide space. Yunus noted that currently the civil society actually functions in underground.

Political scientist Hikmet Hajizadeh, noted Ashurov’s merits in defense of human rights, and called him an outstanding personality and intellectual.

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