PFPA leader rejects money laundering charges

Ali Kerimli, the leader of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA) has stated groundlessness of accusations against the party and arrested persons.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that law enforcers have stated today that the above three detained PFPA activists and Salekh Rustamov, a Russian citizen, arrested earlier, were actors of a money laundering scheme.

According to Mr Kerimli, Salekh Rustamov, who owns a small business in Russia, is his friend and really sent money to him. "For several years, he sent me money for five or seven times, sometimes 500, sometimes 1000 US dollars. Since the money was sent gratuitously, I do not remember exact sums, but they could not exceed 5000 US dollars; therefore, the amount of 412,000 US dollars, stated in the above release, is a frank lie," Ali Kerimli wrote on his Facebook page.

He has also stated the absence of any crime elements in the case of the arrested PFPA activists. "They haven't even committed an administrative offense. What is the logic? A friend sent me money, another party comrade received this money and gave it to me. Where's the crime? All these people live at the brink of poverty. What illegal entrepreneurship could they do, what incomes could they have?" asked Kerimli.

According to his story, today his like-minded person sent him 600 manats to pay the advocates who will defend the arrested activists. "Is it also a crime? Or is our struggle against you (the authorities) also a crime?" he asked.

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