A political prisoner who wrote "Stalin" on a monument to Heydar Aliyev has died in an Azerbaijani prison

Elbai Karimli, a 23-year-old activist for the opposition Popular Front Party, has died in an Azerbaijani prison. He was previously recognized as a political prisoner and sentenced to five years for writing "Stalin" on a monument to Heydar Aliyev, the former president and father of current President Ilham Aliyev.

Azerbaijani opposition sources report that Karimli's death may have been suicide. He has been on a hunger strike since May 23 in protest of the sentence. He claims the drug possession case against him was fabricated.

The opposition and human rights organizations believe his prosecution is politically motivated.

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