Parents of activists arrested in Baku demand to release them

On August 10, parents of activists from the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA), arrested in connection with an action in support of the army in Baku, gathered in front of the General Prosecutor's Office. They claimed their sons were not guilty. According to the spokesman of the General Prosecutor's Office, an unbiased investigation will be conducted.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that after the action held in Baku on July 15, 28 activists from the PFPA were arrested, and by August 1, the number of the detainees increased up to 48.

The detainees' parents claimed lack of information about the health state of the arrested persons. They also noted that they were not allowed to visit and call their sons via phones.

Zikrulla Nagiev, a father of Ramid Nagiev, a PFPA member, claims his son is not guilty.

"My son was simply demanding drastic measures to liberate the occupied Azerbaijani territories. Is this a crime?" the man said.

Ramiz Imanov, a father of Mohammed Imanly, accused of spreading the coronavirus, also claims his son is not guilty.

"If he was infected with coronavirus, why weren't the other family members checked? These are all false accusations," Ramiz Imanov believes.

Sabiga Pashaeva, a mother of Baba Suleimanov, claims her son was hospitalized because of heart attacks.

Polad Gakhramanov, a brother of Fuad Gakhramanly, a member of the PFPA Presidium, is also concerned over the health state of his brother because of reports of torture and even his death.

The opposition National Council of Democratic Forces (NCDF) declared the ill-treatment "of the people detained in Baku after July 14-15." "The fate of Fuad Gakhramanly is of particular concern. There is still no convincing refutation of the information that he was brutally tortured," the NCDF claimed in its statement.