PFPA Activist Elnur Farajov Charged with Drug Trafficking

An activist of the Neftchala district branch of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA) Elnur Farajov has been arrested on charges of drug trafficking. The lawyer Nemat Karimli told Turan.

According to him, Farajov was arrested on December 9, 2016 and charged under Art. 234.2 (Illegal purchase or storage with a view to manufacture, processing, transportation, transfer or sale of drugs or psychotropic substances) of the Criminal Code. He faces a sentence of imprisonment for a term of three to seven years with confiscation of property or without it.

In December last year, he met a man, who said he wanted to establish a business in the region and would also provide Farajov with a job. Farajov agreed with him, and they went together to a tea house. At this point, the police surrounded the tea house and seized drugs from the pocket of his new friend. And he said he had bought the drugs from Farajov. This person was released from liability for alleged "assistance to the investigation." And Farajov was arrested as a preventive measure.

After Farajov was arrested, his parents were promised that their son would soon be released. Then the parents realized that they were deceived, and made the case public,” said Kerimli.

According to the lawyer, the case is a political one.

As the head of the Neftchala District Branch of PFPA Aflatun Ahmadzadeh said, Farajov previously was repeatedly arrested administratively.

So, after taking part in a rally in September 2016 he was arrested for five days.

Farajov was quite active in the social networks on the Internet.

“We believe the accusation of drugs is far-fetched,” said Ahmadzadeh.

By the way, on the arrest of Farajov for five days in September 2016 a complaint was filed to the European Court of Human Rights. -06D--