Oppositionist Natiq Jafarli manages to leave Azerbaijan despite court ban

Border guards let oppositionist Natiq Jafarli to fly out of Azerbaijan, despite the court's decision on the restricted travel status of the activist. The ban is based on the information about a tax debt, but the Ministry of Taxes suggested that a mistake had been made.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on September 28, Natiq Jafarli, the executive secretary of the "Republican Alternative" (ReAl) Party, received a letter from the court banning him from leaving the country because of his alleged tax debt. The activist claims that no debt could have arisen, since he had not been involved in any entrepreneur activities in recent years.

Today, Natiq Jafarli has managed to pass border control at the Baku airport and board a plane. He has noted that customs officers at the airport carefully checked him. According to Natiq Jafarli, he has been subjected to such checks for five years when he leaves the country. "Unfortunately, this 'special check' is still applied to some 'unreliable' politicians, activists, and journalists," Natiq Jafarli said.

According to Rasul Jafarov, the head of the Human Rights Club, the situation with Natiq Jafarli showed flaws in the judicial system.