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BAKU: Public Chamber Says Elnur Seyidov'S Arrest Is Politically Moti

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  • BAKU: Public Chamber Says Elnur Seyidov'S Arrest Is Politically Moti

    PUBLIC CHAMBER SAYS ELNUR SEYIDOV'S ARREST IS POLITICALLY MOTIVATED AND TARGETED AGAINST ALI KARIMLI

    Azerireport

    BAKU. April 4, 2012: Public Chamber, the opposition umbrella
    organization, made a public statement regarding the arrest Ali
    Karimli's brother in law Elnur Seyidov. The Public Chamber denounced
    Elnur Seyidov's arrest saying the arrest was purely political, with its
    primary aim to intimidate Ali Karimli, the chairman of the opposition
    Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA). Elnur Seyidov's lawyers
    have publically announced that, charges forwarded against Seyidov
    had no evidentiary basis. Elnur Seyidov himself stated in his speech
    during his trial that he had not committed any crime and that he was
    arrested for merely being Ali Karimli's brother-in-law.

    Elnur Seyidov's position at the bank did not allow him to make any
    order, or bear any responsibility regarding the financial matters.

    Despite the fact that there was no evidentiary justification for his
    arrest, the criminal investigation has been commenced, with Seyidov
    being detained for three more months.

    The Public Chamber also noted that despite being charged with a
    financial crime Seyidov was arrested by the Ministry of National
    Security (MNS) and kept in that organization's custody. This is an odd
    situation because normally MNS is to deal with the issues concerning
    the national security, not the financial violations at a local branch
    of an ordinary bank.

    "The MNS is currently leading the investigation on Seydov's case. It is
    therefore clear that the Ministry of National Security of Azerbaijan
    (the famous and most frequently used tool of repression against the
    political opposition and free media) used the arrest of Etibar Aliyev
    ( head of board of directors of Technikabank) as an excuse to arrest
    Ali Karimli's brother in law," reads the Public Chamber's statement.

    In its statement the Public Chamber regards this arrest as a political
    repression against Ali Karimli and the Public Chamber itself. The
    Public Chamber declares that the arrest is a sign of a new wave of
    repression against Ali Karimli.

    "The leader of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA) Ali
    Karimli, and his fellow party members have faced numerous incidents of
    repression in preceding years. The PFPA was forcefully and unlawfully
    evicted from its headquarters, making it almost impossible for it to
    operate. In addition to this, Ali Karimli's passport request has been
    refused on utterly absurd reasons, and his family members are often
    have to face the repressive measures of the Azerbaijani government.

    Karimli's close relative Inqilab Karimov is already serving time in
    jail after he had received an unjust court conviction and sentenced
    to two years of imprisonment. It is important to note, that Elnur
    Seyidov's arrest could be evaluated as a negative governmental
    response, to the regular international calls, for political
    concessions, and demands of immediate release of political prisoners,
    prior to the Eurovision song contest. Public Chamber condemns the
    repression act propelled by feelings of revenge by the leadership
    of the Azerbaijani government and notes that not only the political
    opponents of the Azerbaijani government, but also their non-political
    relatives are being targeted in a new campaign launched by the
    Azerbaijani government.

    Public Chamber regards this act as immoral and unethical, and calls on
    the Azerbaijani government to refrain from these methods of political
    competition. The statement also notes that the Public Chamber gives its
    full political and moral support Ali Karimli and his brother-in-law
    Elnur Seyidov. Public Chamber also makes a reminder that one of the
    demands during its scheduled public protest rally on April 8 will
    be the immediate release of all political prisoners, including Elnur
    Seyidov (Azerireport).




    From: A. Papazian
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