"Platform III Republic" condemns ongoing repression against PPFA and Ali Kerimli

The social and political organization "Platform III Republic" called on the Azerbaijani government to stop repression against its political opponents and decriminalize slander. This is stated in the Platform's statement.

The Platform regards the current trial against Kerimli as a "repressive campaign" against the leader of the Party of People's Front of Azerbaijan (PPFA).

Note that law enforcement bodies have consistently filed unfounded and politically motivated criminal and administrative cases against PPFA members.

Ali Kerimli is not given a passport to leave the country (although the European Court of Human Rights has demanded the implementation of its decision; the PPFA has been deprived of its headquarters and is not given a place to hold congresses and meetings; pro-government media and representatives of the authorities are involved in a smear campaign against the organization and its leader; since 2015, the results of the Party's congresses have not been registered for unjustified reasons, which is aimed at paralyzing the organization's activity," the statement reads.

In this regard, the legal action against Kerimli to hold him criminally liable is a part of the government's systematic repressive measures against the PPFA, the statement added.

*Platform III Republic" was established in December 2023 by a group of social activists.  The Platform favors a reasonable balance between the three branches of government - legislative, executive and judicial. This structure planned to actively participate in the political life of the country as a political organization.

However, in March 2024, the authorities arrested several members of the organisation, accusing them of illegal financing from abroad.