NGO claims practice of politically motivated arrests in Azerbaijan

Politically motivated arrests are widespread in Azerbaijan; they are applied voluntarily in violation of national laws and the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), the NGO "Institute for Democratic Initiatives" (IDI) has stated.

According to the IDI, a total of 3300 people were arrested in Azerbaijan in 2021. At least 88 persons were arrested for political reasons in 2020-2021. Mostly, members of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA) were arrested – 58 people.

"Authorities use arrests to punish critics of the regime and intimidate dissenters ... The case of Akhad Nurizade, an activist of the 'Muslim Unity', is indicative. He was arrested twice, on the third occasion he was accused of drug dealing and imprisoned for a long term," said Elshan Gasanov, the head of the Centre for Monitoring Political Prisoners.

According to his story, the article of "disobeying the police" is often used against activists. "It's easy to fabricate cases under this article, as policemen themselves are witnesses," Mr Gasanov has noted.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported about arrests of critics of Azerbaijani authorities. Thus, on August 21, relatives of Magsud Aliev, who criticized Azeri authorities in social networks, informed that he was accused of disobeying the police and arrested for 30 days.