13:17, 1 August 2020

Five PFPA activists arrested in Azerbaijan

Participants of a spontaneous rally in support of the Azerbaijani army on July 14, 2020. Photo by Aziz Karimov for the "Caucasian Knot"

The number of activists of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA), arrested after the July 15 rally in Baku, has reached 18; 16 other activists are criminally persecuted.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that at night on July 15, an unsanctioned march was held in Baku in support of the Azerbaijani Army, which ended in clashes with the police. On July 30, the PFPA reported that the number of party activists detained after the rally reached 44.

PFPA treats all the charges as far-fetched and politically motivated.

"Babek Muradov, Yashar Kerimov and Emin Farkhadov were arrested for 30 days on charges of violating the quarantine regime. Elnur Guliev was sentenced to 30 days, and Feiruz Ragimov – to 15 days of arrest ... The activists' relatives were informed about their arrest post factum, after the court judgements. This is a gross violation of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR)," Seimur Khazi, the PFPA deputy chairman, has stated.

He has noted that detentions of activists continue on the days when Eid al-Adha is celebrated.

Let us remind you that amid mass detentions of PFPA activists, Ali Kerimli, the PFPA leader, has offered the authorities to arrest him in exchange for the release of the detainees.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on July 31, 2020 at 11:24 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

Author: Faik Medjid

Source: CK correspondent