Azerbaijan: Faraj Kerimli, arrested activist of "Musavat" Party, stated his innocence

Faraj Kerimli, an activist of the "Musavat" Party, arrested for illegal possession and sale of drugs and kept in the isolation facility of the Chief Directorate for Combating Organized Crime (known as GUBOP) Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) of Azerbaijan, has declared his innocence, report the human rights activists from the Committee against Torture, who visited Kerimli.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Faraj Kerimli was detained in Baku on July 23; and on July 24, the Nariman District Court of Baku ruled to arrest him for three months.

His advocate Nemat Kerimli believes that his client may be exposed to pressure at the isolation facility; and he asked Elchin Bekhbudov, the head of the Committee against Torture, to visit Kerimli at the GUBOP.

On July 26, Elchin Bekhbudov with his deputy Elchin Shirinov visited Kerimli at the temporary isolation facility of the GUBOP of the MIA.

Faraj Kerimli told them that he is sure of his innocence under the indicted Article 234.4.3 (illegal acquisition or possession of drugs in a large amount with the aim to sell them) of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan, Bekhbudov told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

He has noted that "Faraj Kerimli did not complain about his custody conditions and any pressure on him."