11:47, 26 April 2020

Oppositionist Shamsi Kesemenli arrested in Baku for 15 days

Shamsi Kesemenli, a member of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA), is the tenth party member arrested during the quarantine period, the PFPA has informed.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that by April 17, seven PFPA activists had been arrested in Azerbaijan. On April 20, Alizamin Salaev, a PFPA member, was sentenced to real prison term on charges of defamation and insult after distributing a video in social media criticizing a policeman. Two more PFPA activists were arrested in Baku on April 22.

Mr Kesemenli was detained on April 24 at his home in Baku, Ilham Gusein, a member of the PFPA Presidium, has stated. According to his story, Shamsi was seized by people in civilian clothes and taken away to some unknown place.

"He only managed to say that he was arrested for his posts on social networks," said Mr Gusein.

According to his story, after Kesemenli's detention, all the entries for the past six months were deleted from his page.

The PFPA treats the Kesemenli's arrest as politically motivated.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on April 25, 2020 at 10:54 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

Author: Faik Medjid

Source: CK correspondent