PFPA reports new detentions and arrests of its activists

Eight more activists of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA) have been detained; and three earlier detainees have been arrested on criminal charges in connection with the July 15 action in Baku. The total number of detained PFPA activists has reached 17; and the number of those arrested is already five.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that at night on July 15, a non-sanctioned march took place in Baku in support of the Azerbaijani Army, which ended in activists' clashes with the police. The PFPA reported that eight of its activists were detained after the action. On July 18, the PFPA members, Asif Yusifli and Seimur Akhmedzade, were arrested on charges of destroying someone else's property, organizing actions that entailed violation of public order and resisting a state official.

On July 20, eight more PFPA activists were detained, Gezyal Bairamly, the PFPA deputy chairman, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

"They all were detained without any explanations and taken away to some unknown place. Their families are not informed about the detainees' fate. They are not allowed to contact their advocates. It is obvious that the activists were detained as part of the 'hunt for PFPA members' launched after the July 15 rally," said Gezyal Bairamly.

According to her story, on July 20, the Nasimi District Court of Baku arrested three earlier detained activists. "All the three are charged with the same articles that were previously put forward to Asif Yusifli and Seimur Akhmedzade," Ms Bairamly has added.

According to the PFPA, most of the detained activists were tortured by law enforcers.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on July 20, 2020 at 11:59 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.