PFPA activist arrested

Mutallim Orudjev, an activist of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA), is accused of illegal drug dealing. The PFPA believes that his criminal case has been fabricated for political reasons.

Mutallim Orudjev was detained back on October 23, but his fate was clarified only four days later, Elvin Orudjev, his son, who lives in Germany, has informed.

According to his story, in the morning on October 23, his father was invited to the State Security Service (SSS) of Azerbaijan. "My father reacted to the invitation and never retuned home. And today, his advocate has managed to find out that my father was arrested on criminal charges related to narcotic drugs. This is an absolute lie. Father has nothing to do with drugs," Elvin Orudjev told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

Natig Adilov, the head of the PFPA's press service, said that Mutallim Orudjev had left for Germany several years ago and continued his political activities there. "He actively participated in protest actions of Azerbaijani political emigrants against human rights violations and corruption in Azerbaijan. After deportation to Azerbaijan, he was repeatedly summoned to law enforcement bodies, and now he's been arrested. This is an act of intimidation for those who criticizes authorities," Mr Adilov believes.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on October 27, 2021 at 09:18 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.