Court fails to satisfy PPFA chairman's complaint

On 6 February, the Baku Court of Appeal presided over by Faig Ganiyev rejected an appeal by Party of People's Front of Azerbaijan Ali Kerimli against a verdict of the Nasimi district court, which found him guilty under Article 147.1 (slander) and fined him AZN 1,500.

‘This judgement has no legal grounds. The court is political in nature,' Ali Kerimli says.

He added that he would use all legal means to cancel the court's decision. ‘If necessary, we will go to the European Court of Human Rights,’ Kerimli said.

On 2 December 2024, the Baku Nasimi district court presided by Babek Panahov found Ali Kerimli guilty under Article 147.1 (defamation) of the Criminal Code and ordered a fine of AZN 1,500. The lawyer asked the court to sentence Kerimli to 6 months' imprisonment.

Applicant Aydin Aliyev demanded that Ali Kerimli be prosecuted for slander.

The case was initiated because of the following statements: ‘Aydin Aliyev, expelled from the ranks of the Party of Peoples’ Front of Azerbaijan for deviation from the political course of the Party and co-operation with the authorities, was forcibly restored to the position of the head of the control and revision Commission by a court decision’.

Recall that Aliyev was expelled from the Party by the decision of the general meeting of the Presidium of the Supreme Majlis of the Party of People's Front of Azerbaijan on 10 June 2019.

Aydin Aliyev appealed to the Nasimi district court with a demand to cancel the decision of the general meeting and reinstate him as a member of the PPFA and the head of the control and revision commission. The claim was satisfied in June 2020.

Ali Kerimli appealed this decision. The Baku Court of Appeal did not settle the suit.