Azerbaijani oppositionists complain of dismissals under authorities' pressure

Elvin Mamedov and Arif Babaev, activists of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA) have complained that employers forbade them to appear at work. The oppositionists believe that they were fired because of their political activities.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Elvin Mamedov, a PFPA activist was demanded, after the end of his administrative arrest, by his employer to write a resignation application, but he refused. Arif Babaev, another party activist, who has also recently served his administrative arrest, also faced a threat of dismissal. The PFPA believes that employers are firing activists under authorities' pressure.

On June 10, Elvin Mamedov, a PFPA member, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that his employer had made a final decision regarding his dismissal. "They told me not to come again," he said.

However, he noted that he would not appeal against his dismissal decision. "Courts in our country are not independent bodies. The order to fire me came from the political power. The court will receive the same order not to reinstate me," Mr Mamedov said.

Arif Babaev, another PFPA activist, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that he was in fact not working at the Point Hotel Baku.

"The hotel tenant openly told me that he was being pressured by the authorities to fire me," said Babaev, who had worked as a cook in the hotel.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on June 11, 2020 at 08:25 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.