Charges against PFPA activist toughened

Baku/24.08.22/Turan: The Khatai District Court accepted the complaint of Sergeant Seymour Imanov, an employee of the Nasimi District Police Department of Baku,  as a private criminal charge against a member of the Popular Front Party Gulnara Rahimova.

At the preparatory meeting on Wednesday, she was brought in as a defendant. Moreover, her charges were toughened. Thus,  the Article 147 (slander) was reclassified to 147.2 (slander about committing a serious crime) of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan, which threatens with imprisonment of up to 3 years. There is also the charge under  the Article 148 (insult), providing for up to 6 months in prison. The reason for filing a complaint was Rahimova's Facebook post on August 11.

Rahimov awas detained on July 20, during the rallies in front of the Cabinet of Ministers demanding "Open the borders!" . According to the girl, she witnessed the beating in the 41st police department of Aziz Mamiyev, who was taken there with her. She wrote about all this on her page, and on August 11 she shared a photo of Sergeant Imanov, who participated in the beating of Mamiyev.

Rahimova said today that she does not plead guilty, because she did not insult the policeman, but shared his photo, indicating that he was among those who beat Mamiyev.

“This criminal case shields the police so that they are not afraid of public censure,” Rahimova said. The next meeting will take place on 30 August. The attempts to get comments  from Imabov were futile.

Gulnara Rahimova is known for her active participation in protest actions,  for what she has been  repeatedly detained and fined. -06B-