In Azerbaijan, opposition leader Natiq Jafarli arrested

Natiq Jafarli, the executive secretary and co-founder of the movement "ReAl" (Republican Alternative), has been taken into custody for four months by the decision of the Nasimi District Court of Baku. Azerbaijani oppositionists treat the case as politically motivated.

The activist was detained in the evening of August 12, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was informed by Erkin Gadirli, a member of the Board of the movement "ReAl".

"This is a political order, directed against the movement 'ReAl' and the whole civil society," Erkin Gadirli said.

According to Azer Gasymly, another member of the Board of the movements "ReAl", the arrest of Natiq Jafarli is directed against the initiative group "Republican Alternative", which collects signatures for registration of campaign group against the amendments to the Constitution, submitted to the referendum to be held on September 26.

Advocate Djavad Djavadov believes that Natiq Jafarli could be arrested within the criminal case filed by the General Prosecutor's Office in spring of 2014 against local and foreign NGOs. Natiq Jafarli has been involved in the criminal case as a witness, executing projects of civil society, and he has long been restricted in travelling abroad.

It should be noted that Ilgar Mamedov, the leader of the movement "ReAl", is serving his seven-year sentence to imprisonment on the charge in connection with the riots in the town of Ismayilli. The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has found the verdict politically motivated.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.