PFPA leader Ali Kerimli claims threat of his arrest

Some forces in the Azerbaijani government stand up for arrest and neutralization of Ali Kerimli, the chairman of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA). This was reported on August 25 by the independent agency "Turan".

According to its source, Ali Kerimli was to be arrested during the absence in the country of President Ilham Aliev, who since the end of last week left for his regular vacation. A series of arrests of PFPA activists in recent days should become a prelude to neutralization of Ali Kerimli.

Ali Kerimli treats the perspective of his arrest as real.

"During many years, the pro-government propaganda periodically and intentionally defames me. People around me are periodically arrested. In recent years, they arrested Seymour Khazi, Asif Yusifli, Murad Adilov, and at the end of last year my deputy Fuad Gakhramanly. Now, a new wave of arrests takes place. In recent days, in the notorious 'Fethullah Gülen's case', they arrested my assistant Faig Amirov and Fuad Akhmedli, one of our young leaders. Several other persons were subjected to administrative arrests. It is therefore quite feasible that they are also preparing my arrest," Ali Kerimli told the "Caucasian Knot" on August 29 while commenting on the reports on his imminent arrest.

However, the PFPA leader believes that "the authorities are on the wrong path if they suggest preventing protests by neutralization of the opposition leaders."

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.