21:56, 19 September 2018

Writer Akram Ailisli complains about ban on leaving Azerbaijan

Akram Ailisli. Photo: Azadliq Radiosu (RFE/RL)

The ban on travelling abroad prevents from receiving the necessary medical treatment, Akram Ailisli, an Azerbaijani writer, has stated in his letter to the General Prosecutor's Office (GPO). He asked to stop the criminal case against him.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on March 30, 2016, Akram Ailisli, the author of the novel about the Karabakh conflict "Stone Dreams", was detained at the airport before his flight to Frankfurt. He was released after an investigation into hooliganism began against him. In April, investigators re-qualified the charge into the article "Resistance or use of violence against a power representative."

Akram Ailisli has stated that the case against him was falsified, adding that his detention had to do with an attempt of Azerbaijani authorities to disrupt his participation in the international literary festival.

Mr Ailisli has noted that for two years he was deprived of the right to leave the country; and even in Azerbaijan he can not travel freely.

According to the 81-year-old writer, for more than two years no investigative actions have been conducted within his case.

According to the laws of Azerbaijan, the duration of the preliminary investigation in such cases cannot exceed 10 months, the lawyer Namizad Safarov has noted.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’on September 19, 2018 at 07:20 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

Author: Faik Medjid

Source: CK correspondent