17:28, 23 September 2013

Son of oppositional leader sentenced to 25 days of administrative arrest in Azerbaijan

Ali Kerimli. Photo: Aziz Kerimli (RFE/RL)

Tyurkel Kerimli, the son of the leader of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA) Ali Kerimli, has been sentenced to 25 days of administrative arrest.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on September 22 in central Baku Tyurkel Kerimli and several of his friends were detained after an oppositional rally. The police accused them of removal of campaign materials of presidential candidates from street stands.

The young people were arrested on fabricated charges, the lawyer Fakhraddin Mekhtiev told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

He explained that at the trial policemen evidenced against the youngsters, while the latter denied the charges. He intends to appeal against the court's decision at the Court of Appeal (CoA).

Ali Kerimli has treated the court's ruling as "an act of political revenge of the authorities" for his oppositional activities. He added that his family is "constantly under threat."

Tyurkel Kerimli is a student of the Bristol University; and on September 24 he intended to leave for the UK to resume his studies. Earlier, Orkhan Mansurzade, the spokesman of the MIA, denied any political motives in Tyurkel's arrest.

Author: Faik Medzhid

Source: CK correspondent