37 activists face criminal charges following protest in Baku

A total of 37 people, including 16 members of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA), were accused under several criminal articles after the July 15 rally in Baku. Oppositionists wouldn't plead guilty.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that at night on July 15, an unauthorized march was held in Baku in support of the Azerbaijani Army, which ended in clashes of activists with the police. After the march, 28 PFPA activists were arrested. On August 1, the PFPA reported that the number of party activists detained after the march in Baku increased to 48.

On July 15, the preliminary investigation of the criminal case about the unsanctioned march in support of the army in Baku was over. In about a week or ten days, the case will be sent for consideration to the Baku Grave Crimes Court, Tezekhan Miralamli, an employee of the PFPA's press service, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

According to Mr Miralamli, 37 people were involved as accused in the case; 16 of them are PFPA members.

Miralamli treats the charges against the PFPA activists as far-fetched. "Most of the arrested PFPA activists did not attend the above march at all; and those who did, committed no illegal actions," he has added.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on September 15, 2020 at 11:28 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.