Police stopped a rally by Karimli's supporters in Baku.

At least eight supporters of the head of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan, Ali Karimli, have been detained after planning to gather outside the courthouse where an appeal against the politician's arrest was being heard. Some of them, including Karimli's relative, Elnur Seyidov, whose home was searched the day before, were released. The court upheld Karimli's arrest.

As reported by the "Caucasian Knot," on November 29, following searches, State Security Service officers detained the leader of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA), Ali Karimli, his advisor and PFPA presidium member, Mammad Ibrahim, and several other activists. The party called the detentions politically motivated, assessing them as an attempt by the authorities to "destroy the last independent political force in Azerbaijan." On December 1, the court sentenced both to 2.5 months of pre-trial detention. PACE General Rapporteur on Political Prisoners Azade Rojhan called on the Azerbaijani authorities to review the charges against Karimli and ensure that his rights are respected during the investigation.

The Baku Court of Appeal (BCA) rejected the appeal against Karimli's arrest, Natig Adilov, head of the party's press service and a resident of Azerbaijan, told the Caucasian Knot correspondent.

According to him, in connection with Karimli's trial, the police have taken "increased security measures."

"Numerous supporters of Ali The Kerimli family intended to come to the courthouse and express their support for him. But police prevented people from gathering not only in front of the courthouse but also for a distance of 2-3 kilometers. The entire area from the BAS to the Academy of Sciences metro station was placed under police surveillance. "Recognizable activists were immediately detained," Adilov said. Adilov continued, "A total of eight people were detained, according to unspecified sources, and there is no information about another person who has not been contacted." Adilov added that legal steps to free Kerimli will continue, and the defense will file a motion to place the PFPA leader under house arrest.

Saadat Jahangir, a member of the PFPA presidium who was in the area adjacent to the BAC, also pointed out the obstacles preventing Karimli's supporters from reaching the court building.

"We were stopped on Huseyn Javid Avenue, approximately 500 meters from the appellate court building. Detentions were being made at a considerable distance from the court. Among those detained were the chairman of the National Council of Democratic Forces, Jamil Hasanli, Elnur Seidov (a relative of Ali Karimli), Sagif Gurbanov, and others. Jamil Hasanli and Elnur Seidov were taken a distance from the court and dropped off there," Jahangir said.

BAS employee confirmed He informed a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that the complaint against Karimli's arrest had been dismissed, but refrained from commenting on the arrests, noting that what happens outside the courtroom is not within the jurisdiction of the court.

On December 4, security forces searched the home of the brother-in-law of arrested leader of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA), Ali Karimli. Elnur Seidov, according to a statement from the PFPA press service.

After the search, security forces confiscated Seidov's mobile phone.

"Despite the fact that Elnur Seidov is not involved in politics, due to his opposition leadership, Ali Kerimli has already been arrested and convicted on false charges once, and he spent a significant amount of time in prison," the party's press release noted.

Meanwhile, the issue of transferring food and things from home to Kerimli to the pre-trial detention center was resolved. "In the second half of December 4, the pre-trial detention center finally received a parcel for Ali Kerimli," PFPA deputy chairman Seymur Khazi told a "Kavkazskiy" correspondent "node."

A Caucasian Knot correspondent was unable to obtain comment from the State Security Service of Azerbaijan.