Alliance to Protect Political Freedoms (APPF): Zaur Gurbanli is arrested for public and blogger activities

Alliance to Protect Political Freedoms  (APPF) expressed concern  about  continuing arrests of youth activists. Thus, following the arrest of Nigar Yagublu, a member of the youth organization of "Musavat" party on  September 29, the Chief Department  to  Combat Organized Crime (CDCOC) of the Ministry of Internal Affairs detained Zaur Gurbanli, a blogger and a member of NIDA  civil movement. Moreover, a search was conducted in his flat  without presenting any documents and without the participation of witnesses. During the search  there was nobody at home, and the young man's parents were not informed of this. They took away from  Gurbanli’s flat a  computer, and printed materials of NIDA from other office  of the youth organization "Positive Changes".

The statement of the Alliance noted  unfounded charge on not obeying the police,  according to which Gurbanli was  sentenced to 15 days  of administrative arrest.

It is emphasized that the detention of activist and search in  his apartment and workplace has been made in violation of the law.

Gurbanli appeared in court without a lawyer, and for  two days his parents were not reported about the place of his detention. 

The Alliance believes that the arrest of  Gurbanli is due to his public and blogger activities.

The Alliance  regarded  the  arrest of  Gurbanli as continuing pressure and persecution of youth activists, and calls on to end this, and to release all arrested activists.—06D--