Arrests of PFPA Activists (UPDATED)

A measure of restraint was also chosen against members of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan Bakhtiyar Imanov, Ismail Hasanov and Ramid Nagiyev, as well as the former head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic Siyavush Mustafayev. They are charged under Art. 186.2.1 (destruction of other people's property), 233 (violation of public order) and 315 (resistance to a representative of the authorities) of the Criminal Code.    -0-

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2020 July 20 (Monday) 16:59:01

Hunting PFPA activists intensifies – six arrests on Monday

Baku/20.07.20/Turan: Until the evening of Monday, July 20, the police detained at least siz activists of the Popular Front Party.

Late in the evening, Mahir Namazov was detained in the street in the daytime, and taken away in an unknown direction.

On Monday morning, Nijat Abdullazade, Suleyman Maharramli, Ayaz Maharramli, Baba Suleyman and Jeyhun Novruzov were detained.

The PFPA noted that after the rally on July 15, 17 party members have already been detained. Four were dropped, and one was placed under police supervision.

Two more have been charged with criminal charges.

According to the PFPA, the police made the detainees to admit that they prepared riots during the demonstration on the night of July 15 and planned to seize the parliament. The indication of these provocations came allegedly from the leader of the party, Ali Karimli. The police will not comment on these arrests.

The hunt for oppositionists began after the well-known speech of Ilham Aliyev on the evening of July 15 that all the provocateurs from among the PFPA members should be identified and arrested for riots during the demonstration.

He actually admitted that the rally-march was spontaneous and it was caused by the just anger of the people against the Armenian aggression. —06D-