Statement by National Council of Democratic Forces on Fuad Ahmadli

The young activist of Azerbaijan Popular Front Party Fuad Ahmadli was kidnapped on 28th, April. According to information, which was rejected to be confirmed officially for about 10 days, he was detained by Main Organized Crime Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MOCD of MIA).

Today, only after ten days of his disappear, during of which his whereabouts and the formal reason of his detention remained unclear,  Fuad's father and lawyer were  officially told in Narimanov District Court that  he was  detained by Main Organized Crime Department and was charged to 25 days of administrative arrest by the Narimanov Court Decision. 

Fuad was kidnapped by rough violation of legal procedures.   According to his father's information MOCD's employees pursued Fuad Ahmadly when he was back to home after the work and detained him forcefully in front of his house.  His family was not informed about his detention.  For ten days his family and lawyers had no official information on court decision about detention of Fuad, as well as any official document which confirmed his detention in MOCD. Moreover, neither family, nor lawyers were allowed to meet with him.

Fuad just recently had surgery operation, his whereabouts and conditions of detention were unclear about 10 days and that is why his family was particularly troubled about his state of health.

The National Council of Democratic Forces of Azerbaijan is deeply concerned about alleged tortures he could possibly suffer while was detained and which might be reason of his hiding from his family and lawyers. The NCDF warns the Azerbaijani authorities about their responsibility for the life and health of Fuad Ahmadli. 

The National Council declares that this fact is another obvious example which proves the legal nihilism, impunity and rough violations of human rights widespread in the country. The Azerbaijani authorities had created an environment of absolute impunity for the law-enforcement structures, especially when it comes to the deeds against political opposition.     

For a long period of time MOCD was famous as an instrument of torture and pressure on political activists in Azerbaijan and for this reason there were many international calls for its closure.  Later, the Department tried to avoid its very negative image and had some success on that way. But unfortunately, during last periods MOCD started to appear again in its previous image.

The National Council of Democratic Forces strongly condemns the illegal and fabricated arrest of Fuad Ahmadly, particularly, how he was detained and calls Azerbaijani authorities to release him immediately. The National Council also urges the Azerbaijani officials to stop the practice of kidnapping and hiding of detained citizens from their families and lawyers. -02D-