Arzuman Gurbanov Released from Police (updated)

Baku / 11.11.19 / Turan: In the evening, November 9, Arzuman Gurbanov was released from the Main Department for Combating Organized Crime of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. This was reported in PFPA.

At first, they tried to start a criminal case against Gurbanov under Art. 220 (organization of mass riots), accusing him of calling for riots (meaning the October 19 rally in Baku).

Then he was presented with claims in connection with harsh criticism of the authorities on social networks, threatening not to let him into the country. According to Gurbanov, he is a former policeman himself and there was no physical pressure on him.   —06D--

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2019 November 09 (Saturday) 11:54:04

PFPA Activist Arzuman Gurbanov Detained

Baku / 09.11.19 / Turan: An activist of the Agstafa regional branch of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan Arzuman Gurbanov was detained. This is stated in the PFPA report.

Gurbanov was detained on November 8 at the Sinyg Korpu border checkpoint (located 530 km west of Baku, on the border with Georgia) and was first taken to the Gazakh district police department.

From there he was brought to the Main Directorate for Combating Organized Crime of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

“In all likelihood, a criminal case will be fabricated against him, as happened not much earlier with the head of the Nizami branch of the Popular Front Party Pasha Umudov. Despite the world's demands for the regime to release political prisoners, their number in Azerbaijan is increasing,” PFPA leader Ali Karimli wrote on his Facebook page.

The PFPA also noted that Gurbanov, like Umudov, is a former police officer.

“Apparently, the authorities cannot come to terms with the fact that former police officers join the PFPA. And for this reason they punish them,” the party said.

The authorities have not yet commented on the detention of Gurbanov. — 03D06