Rights defenders claim persecution of political emigrants' relatives in Azerbaijan

The Azerbaijani Centre for the Protection of Political Prisoners reported about the pressure on Azerbaijani political emigrants and listed the names of 30 activists persecuted even in exile, whose relatives in Azerbaijan are arrested and sentenced.

Tthe report of the CPPP is entitled "The European Case: Pressure on Azerbaijani Political Immigrants and Their Relatives, Current Status and Realities".

The flow of refugees to Europe intensified since 2014, when the persecution of activists became tougher, notes Ogtai Gyulyalyev, a coordinator of the CPPP. However, according to him, political emigrants continue to struggle abroad.

So, in July 2015, Nazim Agabekov, one of the leading IT specialists of Azerbaijan, a brother of the wife of Emin Milli, a founder of the "Meydan TV", based in Berlin, was arrested on the charge of illegal drug trafficking.

In October 2015, Vekil and Radji Imanov, brothers of Gyunel Movlud, an editor of the "Meydan TV", were arrested. They were released ahead of schedule in April 2016 after the parents disavowed Movlud.

The Azerbaijani authorities deny the persecution of citizens for political reasons.