Kerimli's allies criticized the use of force against opposition supporters

A Baku court remanded in custody Mammad Ibrahim, a member of the Popular Front Party's presidium, who, along with party leader Ali Karimli, is accused of attempting to overthrow the government. Police dispersed the crowd gathered outside the courthouse, and opposition members called for an end to the repression.

As reported by the " Caucasian Knot ," on November 29, State Security Service officers detained Ali Karimli and his advisor, Mammad Ibrahim, a member of the Popular Front Party's presidium. Both opposition figures were remanded in custody for two and a half months, until February 13. Karimli was charged under Article 278.1 of the Azerbaijani Criminal Code (actions aimed at the violent seizure of power or the violent change of the constitutional order of the state). He denied the charges and called his criminal case political persecution.

On December 8, the Baku Court of Appeals (BCA) rejected the appeal against the arrest of Mammad Ibrahim, the Popular Front Party (PFPA) reported, whose statement was translated into Russian by a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

The party believes that this decision has “no legal basis” and is “the fulfillment of a political order.”

People who came to support Mamed Ibrahim were removed from the area by force.

"During the appeal hearing, the Baku Court of Appeal building was surrounded by police, and people who had come to support Mammad Ibrahim were forcibly removed from the premises. The PFPA declares that the Court of Appeal's decision regarding Mammad Ibrahim is based not on law, but on a political agenda. Therefore, the PFPA condemns this decision and demands the immediate release of PFPA Chairman Ali Karimli, Mammad Ibrahim, and all other political prisoners," the statement reads.

The party condemned the use of force against people who came to the courthouse and called on the authorities "not to turn law enforcement agencies into an instrument of political repression."

Natig Adilov, the head of the PFPA press service who lives abroad, commented on the situation to a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent . "Despite all the difficulties facing political, social, and human rights activities in Azerbaijan, the PFPA will continue to fight to defend all political prisoners in the country, led by Ali Karimli," he said.

Adilov noted that Mammad Ibrahim, like Karimli, has been charged under Article 278.1 of the Azerbaijani Criminal Code. Both are linked to former head of the presidential administration Ramiz Mehdiyev.

A BAS employee confirmed the decision on Ibrahim's arrest appeal to a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent. The court representative declined to comment on reports that security forces prevented Ibrahim's supporters from gathering outside the BAS building, stating that events on the street are outside the court's jurisdiction.

As a reminder, on December 5, Tezekhan Miralamli, the chairman of the PFPA's audit commission and a party press officer, was detained in Baku while en route to a court hearing regarding Karimli's arrest. Security forces searched the activist's rented apartment, seized his computer, mobile phone, and documents, and took Miralamli to the State Security Service. Tezekhan Miralamli was released on December 6 after being questioned as a witness in Ali Karimli's criminal case.

The number of political prisoners in Azerbaijan reached its highest level in 2024 since the country's 23-year membership in the Council of Europe, according to the Caucasian Knot report " Key Points on the Record Number of Political Prisoners in Azerbaijan ." However, Azerbaijani authorities  deny the existence  of political prisoners in the country.