Arrest of Akhmedli and Amirov extended by two months

The Nasimi District Court of Baku has extended until March 12 the detention of oppositionists Faig Amirov and Fuad Akhmedli. Their defence has announced its intention to lodge an appeal and challenge the arrest at the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR).

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Fuad Akhmedli, the head of the Khatai branch of the Youth Committee of the oppositional Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA) was accused of spreading personal data of subscribers of a mobile operator, where he worked. After the merger of his case with the case of another PFPA activist, Faig Amirov, investigators suspected Akhmedli as a supporter of the Turkish Muslim preacher Fethullah Gulen.

Today, the Nasimi District Court has considered the petition to extend the custody of Akhmedli and Amirov, Asabali Mustafaev, an advocate of Akhmedli, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

"The prosecutor's office has motivated the extension of custody by the need to conduct additional investigative actions. But what had prevented them from carrying these actions during the four and a half months they are in jail?" asked Mustafaev.

According to his story, the defence has petitioned for the release of the defendants under house arrest.

According to Mustafaev, the court rejected the defence's motion and granted the prosecutor's one, extending the arrest until March 12.

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