Vice-consul of Azerbaijan meets Azeri poets arrested in Iran

On July 26, Nariman Orudjev, the vice-consul of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Tabriz, met Farid Gusein and Shakhriyar Gadjizade, young poets and Azerbaijani citizens, arrested in Iran. This was the first meeting of the Azerbaijani consulate with the young writers from the time of their arrest – May 2 this year.

The meeting with the vice-consul took place in a Tabriz prison on July 27, said Elman Abdullaev, the spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of Azerbaijan.

According to his story, the prisoners told him that they were kept in some other place and were brought there specifically to meet the diplomatic official of Azerbaijan. The young men also said that in the first three weeks after arrest they were held separately, later – together.

As for the accusations, the detainees told the vice-consul that they were charged with visiting Iran without a permit of the authorities of the country.

Messrs Gusein and Gadjizade deny the charges against them. They said that they had arrived at the literary festival, took part in it and were on their way back without breaking any laws and regulations.

The Iranian Embassy has refrained from commenting the meeting of the vice-consul of Azerbaijan in Tabriz with the arrested Azerbaijani citizens.