Azerbaijani oppositionist Fuad Akhmedli released

On August 18, Fuad Akhmedli, an activist of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA), was released from the colony after his four-year prison term. He claims to have been convicted on trumped-up and politically motivated charges. Akhmedli said he would continue his political struggle.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Fuad Akhmedli, the head of the regional branch of the PFPA's youth committee, was accused of disseminating personal data of subscribers of the cellular company where he worked. In June 2017, Akhmedli was sentenced to four years in prison under the articles "Violation of the legislation on operative-search activities" and "Abuse of official powers". The defence treated the verdict as a political order.

Fuad Akhmedli was released on August 18, at five o'clock in the morning from the colony where he was serving his sentence. He suggested that he was released at such an early hour in order to "prevent a possible meeting with his party comrades." Akhmedli stated that he was convicted on trumped-up and politically motivated charges.

"Of course, I spent four years in prison completely unreasonably. But the prison has quenched me even more. It convinced me even more of the need to achieve political changes in the country to eliminate officials' injustice and arbitrariness. I will continue the struggle until the release of the last political prisoner, until Azerbaijan gains freedom and reign of democracy in the country," Mr Akhmedli told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on August 18, 2020 at 08:49 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.