Relatives of political prisoners hold a protest in Baku

At a protest in Baku, relatives of Samir Ashurov and Pyunkhan Kerimli, deported from Germany, said that the deportees were arrested in Azerbaijan on unfounded charges, like convicted journalist Polad Aslanov.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that on June 6, the “Union for the Freedom of Political Prisoners of Azerbaijan” updated the list of 100 political prisoners, which included activists Samir Ashurov and Pyunkhan Kerimli, arrested after their deportation from Germany, and convicted journalist Polad Aslanov.

Samir Ashurov was among 38 Azerbaijani citizens returned from Germany. In April, he was arrested on the charge of assault with a knife on a man. Human rights defenders and Samir Ashurov’s wife called his case political persecution.

Pyunkhan Kerimli, a member of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA), deported from Germany in November 2021, was arrested on the charge of drug trafficking.

Nurana Ashurova, a spouse of Samir Ashurov, believes that her husband was arrested on a slanderous charge. The woman notes that her husband had serious health problems.

Vakhid Kerimov, a father of Pyunkhan Kerimli, expressed his indignation about the arrest of his son. “My son was illegally arrested and tortured ... All five of those arrested after their deportation from Germany are being avenged for the fact that they were not indifferent to human rights in Azerbaijan even while being abroad,” Vakhid Kerimov said.