Faraj Kerimli, activist of "Musavat" Party, detained in Azerbaijan

Faraj Kerimli, 29, the deputy chairman of the youth organization of the oppositional "Musavat" Party, was detained today in Baku, his advocate reports. His party colleagues believe that Kerimli's detention has to do with his public and political activities and his activism on the Internet.

The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was informed by Nemat Kerimli, Faraj's advocate, that his client was detained at the Baku Health Centre, where he brought his mother for treatment.

"Several men in civilian clothes attacked Faraj, put a bag over his head and took him away in an unknown place. They didn't even introduce themselves," said the lawyer.

According to his story, on July 17 Faraj's brother, Siraj Kerimli, was arrested on charges of drug possession. "Siraj was detained in the same manner. During the search of the apartment, they confiscated the laptop of their father. When the court was deciding on the measure of freedom restriction, we asked about the attitude of the laptop to charges of drug possession, but we were not given a clear answer," said the lawyer.

In his opinion, the confiscation of the laptop confirms the political motives for persecuting the Kerimli brothers.