Representatives of the Council of Europe have called on Azerbaijani authorities to release human rights defender Anar Mammadli, who was sentenced to 13 years in prison. Specifically, PACE rapporteur on political prisoners Azadeh Rojhan asserts that his prosecution is political in nature and that fundamental principles of a fair trial were violated during the proceedings.
The Committee for the Protection of the Rights of Ali Karimli expressed strong protest on the occasion of the 61st birthday of the leader of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA), which the politician is celebrating in the pretrial detention facility of the State Security Service. The human rights activists accused the authorities of exerting pressure on Karimli for years, including the revocation of his passport and periodic arrests.
"The current imprisonment is described as a direct consequence of the authoritarian course that condemns Azerbaijan to complete isolation," the statement reads.
The Committee congratulated the politician and expressed confidence in the inevitable victory of democratic values.
Ali Karimli has been in custody since late 2025 in a case related to former head of the Presidential Administration Ramiz Mehdiyev. He is accused of attempting a coup d'état; he denies the charges brought by investigators as fabricated and politically motivated. The Popular Front Party denies any “Russian connection” or involvement in the coup, declaring its commitment to European integration and peaceful methods.