Representatives of the Council of Europe have called on Azerbaijani authorities to release human rights defender Anar Mammadli, who was sentenced to 13 years in prison. Specifically, PACE rapporteur on political prisoners Azadeh Rojhan asserts that his prosecution is political in nature and that fundamental principles of a fair trial were violated during the proceedings.
Political prisoner Shaban Umerov, sentenced to 18 years in prison, needs urgent dental treatment, including dentures. His wife, Zarema Umerova, reported this after a visit at Penal Colony No. 17 in Murmansk.
The 56-year-old Crimean Tatar has only about ten teeth left, making it difficult to eat. He requires dentures on both jaws. As early as July 2025, Umerov reported dental problems, as well as high blood pressure and headaches.
Shaban Umerov was detained in March 2019 during mass searches of Crimean Tatar homes. In March 2022, he was sentenced to 18 years in prison under Article 205.5 of the Russian Criminal Code ("participation in a terrorist organization," which is the Hizb ut-Tahrir party recognized in Russia). According to the case file, he had no weapons, did not plan terrorist attacks, or call for them.