Opposition figure Gulu Mammadli stated that the arrest of Ali Karimli, leader of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA), was expected, but the reasons go beyond simple criticism of the authorities. According to Mammadli, Karimli's publications in major Western media have increased his political significance and visibility abroad, which has caused concern among the Azerbaijani authorities.
On April 24, the Leninsky District Court of Vladikavkaz will hold a preliminary hearing of the new examination of the «Tskaev case», closed to the press. On 7 March, the Fifth Court of Cassation reversed the decision of the Leninsky District Court of Vladikavkaz and returned the case to consideration.
Let us recall that after six years of proceedings, the Leninsky Court convicted ten ex-policemen of torturing and killing Vladimir Tskayev, a resident of Vladikavkaz, and sentenced them to real terms of imprisonment. Two were given 10 years in a maximum security prison, one 10.5 years. Three others were sentenced to 8, 3 and 4 years. The remaining four convicts were sentenced to three and two and a half years in a penal colony. Later, two prisoners were released on parole. Four others were released because of the statute of limitations.