Oppositionist Ayaz Magerramli complains about ban to leave Azerbaijan

Ayaz Magerramli, a member of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA), has reported five cases within a year, when border guards prevented, with no legal grounds, him to leave the country. Mr Magerramli has associated these bans with his political activities.

The last such incident occurred on July 20, when border guards did not allow him to cross the checkpoint on the border with Russia, said the oppositionist.

He has noted that he is not involved in any criminal cases and does not even figure in any of them in the status of a witness.

Gezyal Bairamly, a deputy chair of the PFPA, believes that the travel restrictions imposed on Magerramli are politically motivated.

"Ayaz Magerramli is a member of the Presidium of the Supreme Majlis of our party; he actively participates in its activities. Last year, during the presidential election, he was fired from the State Oil Company for participating in a rally demanding election boycott. Our party experiences tough pressure. Ten activists are serving their long prison terms on trumped-up charges; others are arrested and fired from work," Ms Bairamly told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

"In recent years, we observe a vicious practice, when activists, journalists and members of oppositional parties are not let out of the country. Some of them were interrogated as witnesses, but even this does not give the authorities the right to restrict their right to leave," said Yalchin Imanov, a former member of the Bar Association.