Prisoners of Conscience :

Political Prisoners from East and Southeast Europe

Every year hundreds of people around the world are wrongfully imprisoned for no other reason than being critical of those in power. In some countries such as Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Russia, human rights advocates, opposition leaders, journalists, activists and others have been targets of persecution and crackdowns on critical voices. They have become prisoners of conscience.

Raising awareness is crucial, as one political prisoner is one too many.

Prisoners of Conscience 2022

In 2021, the Regional Office of Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom for East and Southeast Europe featured seven prisoners of conscience from the region: İlhan Sami Çomak (Turkey), Saleh Rustamov (Azerbaijan), DOXA (Russia), Tut.by (Belarus), Asan Akhtemov (Ukraine), Volha Loika (Belarus), Niyameddin Ahmadov (Azerbaijan).  From minorities to journalists to politicians to activists, all of them are subject to untrue accusations, sometimes torture. 

Prisoners of Conscience 2021

The Regional Office of Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom for East and Southeast Europe decided to shed light in 2020 on the plight of political prisoners in the region by profiling nine current and former political prisoners: Marfa Rabkova (Belarus), Nedim Türfent (Turkey), Osman Kavala (Turkey), Yury Dimitriev (Russia), Azat Miftakhov (Russia), Zarifa Sautieva (Russia), Emir-Hussein Kuku (Ukraine), Polad Aslanov (Azerbaijan), Elchin Ismayilli (Azerbaijan). During the course of our research, some of the above prisoners have been freed. 

Prisoners of Conscience 2020

The Regional Office of Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom for East and Southeast Europe decided to shed light in 2019 on the plight of political prisoners in the region by profiling six current and former political prisoners:  Ahmet Altan (Turkey), Nazli Ilicak (Turkey), Afgan Mukhtarli (Azerbaijan), Gozel Bayramli (Azerbaijan), Anastasia Shevchenko (Russia), Roman Sushchenko (Ukraine). It is a worrisome trend that four out of six political prisoners profiled in this series are journalists, who have been found guilty of nothing more than doing their job. During the course of our research, some of the above prisoners have been freed.