Police disrupt PFPA meeting in Baku

On March 6, about 20 activists of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA) were detained during a meeting in a cafe in Baku. The police drew up protocols on quarantine violation with fines against activists and released them. The PFPA considers the actions of the police unlawful, since restrictions on the number of cafe visitors are no longer in effect.

“Our party does not have headquarters and offices. The authorities do not give us premises, and when we rent them from private individuals, they are subjected to pressure ... So, we have to hold meetings in a cafe. On March 6, during such a meeting, the police broke into the premises and began detain members of the party by force,” said Natig Adilov, the chief of the PFPA’s press service.

Tezekhan Miralamli, a member of the NGO “Line of Defence”, called the detention of the activists unfounded. “Members of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan were detained on March 6. It was from that day when anti-COVID restrictions on visits to public catering facilities were lifted in Azerbaijan ... So, there can be no question of violating the quarantine,” Tezekhan Miralamli explained.