Ali Kerimli: security forces are instruments of repression of the ruling party
The government is preventing the conducting regional conferences by the Azerbaijan Popular Front Party (PPFA.)
Police disperses participants of the meetings, specifically learnt local people with the connivance of the authorities and law enforcement agencies often make physical pressure to the party members, and damage their property, said the Head of the Popular Front Party Ali Kerimli at a press conference on June 20 in the Media Center of the Institute of Reporters Freedom and Safety.
Over the past few months PPFA conducted conferences in almost 30 regions. In seven cases, the party activists were physically attacked, their property was destroyed. "This action of the authorities can be called a system of repression," said Kerimli.
According to him, the activities are carried out in homes of activists, and Ilham Aliyev’s power is afraid of it. For the past seven years, said Kerimli, the PPFA doe not have a central headquarters. "The authorities do not allow to rent offices. However, the ruling party has its own office in every region, built at the expense of corrupt money, " said the head of PPFA.
"The police has turned into a repressive organ of the ruling party, and serves only one political party. The prosecutor's office is to monitor the rule of law, and do not turn a blind eye to the crimes against members of the Popular Front. The party "Yeni Azerbaijan" was created in the period of the National Front. Time will come when the party will be in opposition. No power is eternal, any party should be considered as a future power," said Kerimli.
He called for an end to the "policy of imitation." "On the one hand, the authorities carry out activities, spending millions, thus demonstrating, tolerance of the country. On the other hand, they crush the political opposition. The ruling party holds its convention in solemn cases, and Popular Front activists are pressured," said the head of the party. Noting that the opposition forces united in the National Council, Kerimli called on these forces in the region to follow this example.
"We are not afraid of repression, and we continuing our activities, conducting conferences in the regions. I call on all parties to organize, "said Kerimli. He believes that the National Council will soon achieve the support of the people. Single candidate of the National Council will become a single political force of transition period.
Responding to a question if the National Council has candidate in reserve, in case if Rustam Ibrahimbeyov is not registered as a presidential candidate, and is not be allowed to Azerbaijan, Kerimli said the following. "If a single candidate of the National Council is not registered, the election can be considered non-alternative."
Kerimli also mentioned political arrests, and said there are more than 80 political prisoners in the country. A veteran of the National Movement, Qurban Mammadov, was arrested third time on political motivation. "His arrest is due to speeches revealing the power. All political prisoners every day must feel that they are protected, because it gives them strength," said Kerimli. -03С04-
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