In the framework of the winter session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Counicl of Europe (PACE), PACE President Pedro Agramunt urged the Azerbaijani leadership to set free the leader of the Republican Alternative movement, Ilgar Mammadov.
According to him, thanks to the negotiations held by him with the Azerbaijani government, it was possible to release a number of journalists and representatives of the civil society, which is, in his words, doubtlessly a success.
However, certain citizens are still under arrest, including ReAl leader Ilgar Mammadov, he added.
On 17 March 2016, Sheki Court of Grave Crimes sentenced 18 people for participating in and organizing unrest in Ismailli. ReAl movement leader Ilgar Mammadov was sentenced to 7 years in prison.