Gubad Ibadoglu`s associates held a picket in front of the Main Directorate for Combating Organized Crime (MDCOC)

Baku/26.09.23/Turan: Members of the Azerbaijani Democracy and Welfare Party held a protest action today in front of the Main Directorate for Combating Organized Crime (MDCOC) of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

They protested against the continued detention of party leader Gubad Ibadoglu and the refusal to transfer him to a clinic despite his deteriorating health. 

Police officers did not allow the protesters to hold a rally in front of the administration building and they moved to the nearby Narimanov District Court building. The politician's associates chanted slogans "Freedom to Gubad Ibadoglu!".

It was noted that despite the decision of the ECHR on the need to transfer Ibadoglu to a specialized clinic, this has not yet been done.

"Gubad Ibadoglu has been under arrest for 66 days, but no investigative actions have been carried out with him so far. This confirms that his arrest is of a political nature," said Adalat Yusub, a member of the party's board.

He said that the party's office was sealed and its documents were seized during the search, and this limits the organization's activities. The protesters demanded Ibadoglu's release, the return of the party's documents, and the removal of the ban on using the party's office.

The action ended without incident.

*On July 24, the Narimanov District Court of Baku arrested Gubad Ibadoglu for 3 months and 26 days on charges of making counterfeit money. The Azerbaijani Interior Ministry said that Ibadoglu is associated with supporters of Fethullah Gulen, accused of an attempted coup in 2016 in Turkey. On August 25, he was charged with another charge of "manufacturing, storing or distributing religious extremist materials."

Gubad Ibadoglu denies the accusations, considering them absurd. Many international organizations and officials have called on official Baku to immediately release the politician. ---21B06---