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PUBLIC CHAMBER SAYS ELNUR SEYIDOV'S ARREST IS POLITICALLY MOTIVATED AND TARGETED AGAINST ALI KARIMLI
Azerireport
BAKU. April 4, 2012: Public Chamber, the opposition umbrella
organization, made a public statement regarding the arrest Ali
Karimli's brother in law Elnur Seyidov. The Public Chamber denounced
Elnur Seyidov's arrest saying the arrest was purely political, with its
primary aim to intimidate Ali Karimli, the chairman of the opposition
Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA). Elnur Seyidov's lawyers
have publically announced that, charges forwarded against Seyidov
had no evidentiary basis. Elnur Seyidov himself stated in his speech
during his trial that he had not committed any crime and that he was
arrested for merely being Ali Karimli's brother-in-law.
Elnur Seyidov's position at the bank did not allow him to make any
order, or bear any responsibility regarding the financial matters.
Despite the fact that there was no evidentiary justification for his
arrest, the criminal investigation has been commenced, with Seyidov
being detained for three more months.
The Public Chamber also noted that despite being charged with a
financial crime Seyidov was arrested by the Ministry of National
Security (MNS) and kept in that organization's custody. This is an odd
situation because normally MNS is to deal with the issues concerning
the national security, not the financial violations at a local branch
of an ordinary bank.
"The MNS is currently leading the investigation on Seydov's case. It is
therefore clear that the Ministry of National Security of Azerbaijan
(the famous and most frequently used tool of repression against the
political opposition and free media) used the arrest of Etibar Aliyev
( head of board of directors of Technikabank) as an excuse to arrest
Ali Karimli's brother in law," reads the Public Chamber's statement.
In its statement the Public Chamber regards this arrest as a political
repression against Ali Karimli and the Public Chamber itself. The
Public Chamber declares that the arrest is a sign of a new wave of
repression against Ali Karimli.
"The leader of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA) Ali
Karimli, and his fellow party members have faced numerous incidents of
repression in preceding years. The PFPA was forcefully and unlawfully
evicted from its headquarters, making it almost impossible for it to
operate. In addition to this, Ali Karimli's passport request has been
refused on utterly absurd reasons, and his family members are often
have to face the repressive measures of the Azerbaijani government.
Karimli's close relative Inqilab Karimov is already serving time in
jail after he had received an unjust court conviction and sentenced
to two years of imprisonment. It is important to note, that Elnur
Seyidov's arrest could be evaluated as a negative governmental
response, to the regular international calls, for political
concessions, and demands of immediate release of political prisoners,
prior to the Eurovision song contest. Public Chamber condemns the
repression act propelled by feelings of revenge by the leadership
of the Azerbaijani government and notes that not only the political
opponents of the Azerbaijani government, but also their non-political
relatives are being targeted in a new campaign launched by the
Azerbaijani government.
Public Chamber regards this act as immoral and unethical, and calls on
the Azerbaijani government to refrain from these methods of political
competition. The statement also notes that the Public Chamber gives its
full political and moral support Ali Karimli and his brother-in-law
Elnur Seyidov. Public Chamber also makes a reminder that one of the
demands during its scheduled public protest rally on April 8 will
be the immediate release of all political prisoners, including Elnur
Seyidov (Azerireport).
From: A. Papazian
Azerireport
BAKU. April 4, 2012: Public Chamber, the opposition umbrella
organization, made a public statement regarding the arrest Ali
Karimli's brother in law Elnur Seyidov. The Public Chamber denounced
Elnur Seyidov's arrest saying the arrest was purely political, with its
primary aim to intimidate Ali Karimli, the chairman of the opposition
Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA). Elnur Seyidov's lawyers
have publically announced that, charges forwarded against Seyidov
had no evidentiary basis. Elnur Seyidov himself stated in his speech
during his trial that he had not committed any crime and that he was
arrested for merely being Ali Karimli's brother-in-law.
Elnur Seyidov's position at the bank did not allow him to make any
order, or bear any responsibility regarding the financial matters.
Despite the fact that there was no evidentiary justification for his
arrest, the criminal investigation has been commenced, with Seyidov
being detained for three more months.
The Public Chamber also noted that despite being charged with a
financial crime Seyidov was arrested by the Ministry of National
Security (MNS) and kept in that organization's custody. This is an odd
situation because normally MNS is to deal with the issues concerning
the national security, not the financial violations at a local branch
of an ordinary bank.
"The MNS is currently leading the investigation on Seydov's case. It is
therefore clear that the Ministry of National Security of Azerbaijan
(the famous and most frequently used tool of repression against the
political opposition and free media) used the arrest of Etibar Aliyev
( head of board of directors of Technikabank) as an excuse to arrest
Ali Karimli's brother in law," reads the Public Chamber's statement.
In its statement the Public Chamber regards this arrest as a political
repression against Ali Karimli and the Public Chamber itself. The
Public Chamber declares that the arrest is a sign of a new wave of
repression against Ali Karimli.
"The leader of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA) Ali
Karimli, and his fellow party members have faced numerous incidents of
repression in preceding years. The PFPA was forcefully and unlawfully
evicted from its headquarters, making it almost impossible for it to
operate. In addition to this, Ali Karimli's passport request has been
refused on utterly absurd reasons, and his family members are often
have to face the repressive measures of the Azerbaijani government.
Karimli's close relative Inqilab Karimov is already serving time in
jail after he had received an unjust court conviction and sentenced
to two years of imprisonment. It is important to note, that Elnur
Seyidov's arrest could be evaluated as a negative governmental
response, to the regular international calls, for political
concessions, and demands of immediate release of political prisoners,
prior to the Eurovision song contest. Public Chamber condemns the
repression act propelled by feelings of revenge by the leadership
of the Azerbaijani government and notes that not only the political
opponents of the Azerbaijani government, but also their non-political
relatives are being targeted in a new campaign launched by the
Azerbaijani government.
Public Chamber regards this act as immoral and unethical, and calls on
the Azerbaijani government to refrain from these methods of political
competition. The statement also notes that the Public Chamber gives its
full political and moral support Ali Karimli and his brother-in-law
Elnur Seyidov. Public Chamber also makes a reminder that one of the
demands during its scheduled public protest rally on April 8 will
be the immediate release of all political prisoners, including Elnur
Seyidov (Azerireport).
From: A. Papazian