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.
After more than six months of illegal detention in Grozny Police Department No. 2, 16-year-olds Said Idigov, Elbrus Saidaev, and Mansur Shabazov were released. They were kidnapped in December 2024 and held without charges, the Memorial Human Rights Center reported.
According to human rights activists, in December 2024, police officers stopped the boys on Abdullah bin Talal Al-Hussein Street, pushed them into a car, and drove them away in an unknown direction. The teenagers had no access to lawyers or contact with their families.
“Thanks to the publicity, the case moved forward, and the teenagers were released. However, the situation remains alarming: the boys’ fathers were forced to sign contracts to participate in the SVO, despite their age (over 50 years old), and their whereabouts are currently unknown,” Memorial noted.