Civil society activists express their support for Ali Kerimli

On April 13 a  group of civil society representatives  of Azerbaijan  visited   the header of  PNFP Ali Kerimli  at his home to express support. In recent days pro-government youth groups hold protest actions in front of the house  of Kerimli, accusing him of treason and pro-Armenian policy. The protesters demanded the expulsion of Karimli out of the country.  The leader of the Legal Enlightenment  Society Intigam Aliyev said that  the  action against Kerimli  is directed against freedom of speech and thought. "Everyone has the right to express critical opinions and this is reflected in the local legislation and international obligations in the field of human rights," Aliyev said. Other human rights activists believe that the action against Kerimli have a goal to divert attention from the message on the Karabakh conflict and negotiation with Russia. In their view  organizers simply deceive the  participants.

"Young people are brought to the  action and  are told that there will be an action on the liberation of Karabakh,"  said the journalist Rovshan Hajibeyli. Civil society activists believe that the government can not manage the economic crisis, and such actions are aimed to distract attention from the urgent problems of the country.

"These actions are not the way  out of the situation, the government should give a start to reforms," said the director of Turan agency Mehman Aliyev. Kerimli believes that  that the purpose of the  actions  is to divert public attention from disclosing offshore accounts of the presidential family in Panama.

"But the authorities are wrong, the content of reports will be explained to the people," said Kerimli. He suspects  the government of Azerbaijan of secret talks with Russia. "If the authorities once again  support the return of Russia to Azerbaijan, it will meet our social and resistance," said Kerimli.-03В/06