Baku / 30.07.20 / Turan: Chairman of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA) Ali Karimli made a statement in which he condemned the country's authorities for repression against members of this opposition organization. He offered the authorities to arrest him in exchange for the release of the imprisoned PFPA activists. As another condition for the release of those arrested, Karimli called his resignation from the post of party chairman and no longer nomination for this post at the upcoming party congress in the fall.
Karimli read out his statement via telephone on the air of the Internet television Osmanigizi TV late in the evening on July 29.
Earlier, he noted that about 40 PFPA members were detained in connection with the «Karabakh action» on July 14-15.
Of these, 14 were arrested on criminal charges, and 13 - administratively.
Another 10 members of the Popular Front Party have been political prisoners for a long time.
According to Karimli, most of the arrested PFPA members did not attend the rally on July 14-15 at all. And they did not commit illegal acts or put forward political demands.
He called the accusations against the activists false.
Karimli noted that immediately after the outbreak of hostilities in Tovuz, the Popular Front Party and the National Council of Democratic Forces announced that they would suspend political struggle and express support for the army and the state.
Karimli believes that the Popular Front Party has become a target of the authorities because of the exposure of corruption, criticism of human rights violations, and demands for a solution to social problems. “The regime is carrying out repressions against the Popular Front Party, because it is the spokesman for the protest electorate. Each repression is directed against those in whom the regime sees itself as a threat, ”Karimli said.
According to Karimli, the repressions against the PFPA were initiated by the head of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, and are associated with the personal political position of the PFPA chairman.
“If the problem is in me, then stop the repression, arrest me, but release all the arrested members of the Popular Front Party,” Karimli said.
He also expressed his readiness to leave the post of party chairman if the first option is unacceptable for the authorities.
"Release those arrested in connection with the latest events, all political prisoners, create conditions for the normal activity of the PFPA and I will resign and at the upcoming party congress in the fall, I will not run again for the post of head of the party," Karimli said.
“My proposals are not a manifestation not out of despair. Even if I am arrested, the PFPA will continue to fight,” Karimli said. — 06D-
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