PFPA activist sentenced to 4 years of conditional imprisonment

The court has sentenced Ruslan Amirov, a member of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA), who was accused of violating the public order and causing harm to the health of a state official, to four years of conditional imprisonment with a three-year probationary period. Amirov has treated the verdict as politically motivated.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Amirov was detained on October 9, 2020, in Baku. His party colleagues linked his detention with his political activities. Amirov was accused in connection with an unsanctioned march held in Baku on July 15, 2020.

"At the end of that march, a group of people broke into the parliament building. But Ruslan Amirov didn't take part in those actions. No proofs of any unlawful actions were presented," Bakhruz Bairamov, an advocate, has stated.

Namizad Safarov, the coordinator of the Centre against Repressions and Torture, also saw political motives in Amirov's case, since the charges against the activist were brought three months after the events.

Mr Safarov has recalled that last year Kerimli was disconnected from the Internet and mobile telephony, when he was forced to stay at home.

"PFPA activists are more often than others subjected to arrests; and this is obviously connected with their harsh criticism of the authorities. And the criminal case on the events of July 15, 2020, is completely absurd. People are punished for demanding the restoration of the country's territorial integrity," Namizad Safarov has stated.