Defence points to political context of Yagublu's arrest

A court in Baku refused to satisfy the defence's complaint against the arrest of the oppositional politician, Tofig Yagublu. The activist himself said that his arrest was preceded by his publications criticizing the authorities.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Tofig Yagublu, a member of the "Musavat" Party and of the coordinating centre of the National Council of Democratic Forces (NCDF), was detained on March 22. His daughter told that when he was in his parked car, another car drove into him; and people from that car began behaving aggressively. After that, Yagublu was detained. The Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) stated that he had committed a road accident and then attacked a married couple; therefore, he was detained. In his turn, Tofig asserts that he has become a victim of provocation.

"Tofig Yagublu stated in court that his arrest had to do with his exercise of the freedom of expression. In particular, he believes that he was arrested for his critical Facebook posts," Elchin Sadygov, an advocate, asserts.

Nemat Kerimli, another Yagublu's advocate, pointed to investigators' bias.

He explained, "The police have seized Yagublu's mobile phone and wouldn't return it. Yagublu had recorded to his phone how, after the road accident, he was attacked by the man, who was later recognized to be a victim."

Nigyar Khazi, a Tofig's daughter, treats the criminal case as "an unashamed provocation."

According to her story, after the arrest, the family members have been never allowed to visit Tofig. Because of the measures against coronavirus, inmates are not allowed to receive food parcels and other essentials. Besides, the daughter pointed to her father's health problems – he suffers from asthma.