The human rights organization Amnesty International expressed grave concern over the arrest of Ali Karimli, chairman of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan. He was detained by the State Security Service following a search and remanded in custody for two months and 15 days.
Amnesty International considers the arrest "further evidence of the consolidation of authoritarian practices" in Azerbaijan, noting the increasing repression of political activity. The organization calls for Karimli's release in the absence of credible evidence, emphasizing that he is being held incommunicado, which could impede a fair trial. Amnesty International also notes that Karimli's arrest comes amid increasing pressure on journalists, academics, and opposition figures in Azerbaijan.
Ali Karimli is a defendant in the case against former head of the Azerbaijani Presidential Administration Ramiz Mehdiyev, whom investigators believe was involved in an attempted coup. The PFPA denies all accusations, calling them politically motivated.
