Azerbaijani oppositionist Faradj Kerimli released by amnesty

Today, Faradj Kerimli, an activist of the "Musavat" Party, sentenced on the charge of drug trafficking and recognized as a political prisoner by human rights defenders, has been early released. He fell under the amnesty declared by the Parliament of Azerbaijan.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in July 2014, Faradj Kerimli was detained on suspicion of drug trafficking. His brother Siradj Kerimli was detained under the same charges. In spring of 2015, Faradj was sentenced to 6.5 years of imprisonment, while his brother was sentenced to 6 years of imprisonment. Siradj Kerimli was pardoned in this March.

"Despite the fact that the amnesty act came into force, Faradj was until the very recent moment held in the penal colony, and he was released 10 days before the end of the amnesty. This is another evidence of biased attitude towards him," noted advocate Nemat Kerimli.

He has reported that the defence appealed to the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) with a request to recognize the violation of the rights of the Kerimli brothers because of "politically motivated prosecution."

Faradj Kerimli himself has stated that he will continue his "political struggle for the democratization of Azerbaijan."

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