Three More PFPA Activists Detained

Baku / 26.05.18 / Turan: Three activists of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA) were detained yesterday.

In particular, the police arrested a member of the Presidium of the Supreme Majlis of the PFPA Aghil Maharramov, chairman of the Majlis of the party"s youth committee Ruslan Nasirli and a veteran of the Karabakh war, former "prisoner of conscience" Babek Hasanov.

The houses of Nasirli and Hasanov were searched.

The PFPA believes the detention is connected with the upcoming May 28 opposition rally on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Azerbaijani People's Republic in the village of Novkhany.

In turn, the head of the National Council of Democratic Forces, Jamil Hasanli, condemned the arrests of the PFPA activists. According to him, over the past two weeks, 10 activists of PFPA have been arrested on trumped-up charges.

Hasanli called this a merciless war unleashed by the authorities against the PFPA.

"This fight, which must be conducted in Karabakh, is conducted in Baku against members of the PFPA," Hasanli wrote on his Facebook page.

According to Hasanli, the authorities' attempts to create a managed opposition have failed.

Over the past 5-6 months, about 700 people have joined the party.

Hasanli believes the repressions are conducted with the aim of squeezing the real opposition out of political life and opening the way for a controlled opposition. Repressive measures against PFPA are coordinated by Fuad Aleskerov, presidential aide for law enforcement.

According to Hasanli, this plan was to be launched in the fall, but for some reason, started earlier. However, he said this plan is doomed to failure and will only strengthen the PFPA. -06D--