Azerbaijani oppositionist complains of beating by law enforcers

Law enforcers have beaten up Arif Babaev, an arrested activist of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA), and forced him to abandon his political activities, his brother said.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Arif Babaev was arrested on April 22. Law enforcers took him away from home without any explanations, said Ilham Gusein, a member of the PFPA Presidium. The court sentenced Babaev to 30 days of arrest under Article 388-1.1 (posting on the Internet of information prohibited for dissemination ...) of the Azerbaijani Code of Administrative Offences.

After detention by law enforcers, Arif Babaev was taken to a division of one of power structures, where he was subjected to physical pressure, Elkhan Babaev, his brother, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

Elkhan believes that Arif was physically abused for "sharing messages about Ali Kerimli, the PFPA leader, and reposting appeals in his support." Elkhan Babaev named the law enforcer, who "had personally beaten up" his brother.

According to Elkhan's story, after the trial, Arif Babaev was forced, already at the detention centre, "was forced before the video camera to repent of his deed and swear that he would no longer make political statements." "Only after that he was left alone, and he could phone home and report his troubles," Elkhan Babaev asserts.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on April 27, 2020 at 07:19 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.