10:53, 7 September 2020

PFPA activist Orkhan Salimzade left under arrest

Orkhan Salimzade. Photo from Orkhan Salimzade's account on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=140047511023338&set=ecnf.100050542691136

The Baku Court of Appeal (BCA) has upheld the arrest of Orkhan Salimzade, an activist of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA). The party treats his arrest as politically motivated; and the defence intends to complain to the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR).

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Orkhan Salimzade was detained on August 18 and arrested for 30 days for disobeying a policeman's lawful demands.

"The real reason for his arrest was Orkhan's participation in the July 15 manifestation. He said that as a forced migrant he expressed his support for the Azerbaijani Army, so that the conflict would be settled as soon as possible and he could return to his home district," said Tezekhan Miralamli, an employee of the PFPA's press service.

On July 15, an unsanctioned march was held in Baku in support of the Azerbaijani Army, which ended in activists' clashes with the police. After the action, several dozen PFPA activists were arrested; on August 1, their number reached 48.

According to Miralamli, the BCA has "formally examined the case" and refused to request the video surveillance footage from the place of Salimzade's detention.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on September 6, 2020 at 00:54 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

Author: Faik Medjid

Source: CK correspondent