Political prisoner Anar Mammedli put on short list of Vaclav Havel prize 2014
Anar Mammadli, chairman of EMDS (Election Monitoring and Democracy Studies Center).
Famous Azerbaijani human rights activist Anar Mammedli, imprisoned for political reasons, was shortlisted for Vaclav Havel in 2014 for a significant contribution to the protection of the right to fair elections.
This was reported by the press service of the Civil Society Forum of the Eastern Partnership, a human rights activist who has nominated the activist for the award withing the framework ofan international campaign for his release.
Anar Mammedlicontributed to the implementation of programs and activities on monitoring of elections, participation and education of voters, as well as in the development of materials and reports on 13 election campaigns in Azerbaijan. He was arrested in December 2013, accused of "abuse of power" and other offenses and sentenced to five and a half years in prison in May 2014.
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe annually awards Vaclav Havel prize for outstanding civil society actions for the protection of human rights in Europe and beyond. The award is presented in partnership with the Library of Vaclav Havel and the Foundation "Charter 77." The winner will be announced in the House by the President of the PACE at its sitting hall on the first day of the autumn plenary session, 29 September 2014.
Bear in mind that the first laureate of Vaclav Havel prize in 2013 became the Belarusian human rights activist Ales Bialiatski, who was serving a prison term for political reasons at the time of award.
