The Court of Appeal in Baku rejected the complaint of the head of the Center for Monitoring Elections and Democracy Education, Anar Mammadli, about the illegality of searches and seizure of personal belongings. His phones, computers and other electronic media on which personal information was stored were confiscated.

In addition, the police received information about persons collaborating with Anar Mammadli. He himself believes that these actions were politically motivated and were carried out with the aim of persecuting them for the preparation of reports on elections and human rights activities. His lawyer intends to file a complaint with the ECHR.

Earlier, the Court of Appeal in Baku rejected Anar Mammadli’s request to be transferred from a pre-trial detention center to house arrest. The activist rejected the charges of currency smuggling brought against him and linked the criminal case with his social and human rights activities. International organizations and the US State Department called on the Azerbaijani government to release the social activist and other jailed journalists and activists.

In 2014, Anar Mammadli was sentenced to five and a half years on charges of tax evasion and illegal business. Two years later he was pardoned. President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree releasing 148 prisoners, including 10 prisoners of conscience. In 2014, PACE awarded Anar Mammadli the Vaclav Havel Human Rights Prize.

Today, opposition parties of Azerbaijan held a rally in connection with the country's Independence Day. Chairman of the Popular Front of Azerbaijan party Ali Karimli called for a fight for freedom, human rights and democracy. Musavat leader Isa Gambar recalled that a regime of personal power has been established in Azerbaijan and human rights are being violated.