GPO complains about Kerimli to the Bar Association

The General Prosecutor's Office (GPO) has complained to the Azerbaijani Bar Association about the advocate Nemat Kerimli. The reason for the complaint was his public allegations about torture of his client Tofig Yagublu, an opposition activist.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on October 19, in central Baku, law enforcers dispersed an unsanctioned protest rally, announced by the National Council of Democratic Forces (NCDF) and the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA). Ali Kerimli, the PFPA leader, and other oppositional politicians, including Tofig Yagublu, were detained by use of force. On October 21, Yagublu's daughter claimed that her father was beaten up after detention.

According to Nemat Kerimli, on December 7, he received a call from the Azerbaijani Disciplinary Bar Association, informing that a complaint had arrived from the GPO.

"I was told that the complaint had to do with my statements in media and social networks about Tofig Yagublu. In fact, I made public the facts of Tofig Yagublu's torture after his detention at the rally on October 19 and of his arrest for 30 days. He told me that he had been beaten up; and this fact must be made public. As his advocate, I fulfilled his request and my professional duty," Nemat Kerimli told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

Mr Kerimli has treated the GPO's complaint as unjustified. "This is another fact of pressure on me in connection with my professional activities" Nemat Kerimli is sure.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on December 7, 2019 at 10:07 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.