Opposition activist Eldaniz Agaev arrested in Baku

Eldaniz Agaev, an activist of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA), has been sentenced to 30 days of administrative arrest under an article on disobeying police. He was arrested on a false accusation because of his political activities, the PFPA believes.

Eldaniz Agaev was detained in the afternoon on June 24, and arrested by the court on the following day, on June 25, Gezyal Bairamly, Deputy Chair of the PFPA, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

"Agaev was taken right from his workplace and brought to the Yasamal district police department, where a protocol was drawn up on his alleged offenses under Article 535.1 (disobeying policemen's lawful demands) of the Administrative Code of Azerbaijan. The Yasamal District Court of Baku sentenced Eldaniz Agaev to 30 days of arrest," said Ms Bairamly.

Agaev's family members and his party comrades learned about the court's decision post factum. "We don't yet know what's written there in the protocol and in the judgement. Agaev's family members were informed about the judgement after the court session. But we don’t believe in the accusation. How could a person resist the police, if he was taken from his workplace?" Gezyal Bairamly has expressed the PFPA's position on Eldaniz Agaev's arrest.

The PFPA is sure that Agaev is being persecuted for political reasons.

According to Ms Bairamly, since the start of 2019, about 60 activists of the party were arrested on charges of disobeying the police.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on June 25, 2019 at 09:04 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.