Azerbaijani court rejects appeal of jailed opposition leader Ali Karimli

Ali Karimli

An Azerbaijani appeal court has rejected a bid for release by the jailed opposition leader Ali Karimli, upholding a decision to extend his pretrial detention.

The Baku Court of Appeal on Tuesday dismissed the complaint by Karimli, the chairman of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (AXCP), against the extension of his custody.

On 10 June, the Sabail District Court in Baku extended Karimli's detention by a further five months, following a previous four-month extension in February.

Karimli was arrested on 1 December last year on charges under Article 278.1 of the Criminal Code, which relates to attempting to seize state power by force and overthrow the country's constitutional order.

Mammad Ibrahim, the secretary of the AXCP's supreme assembly, has been detained under the same charges. Both men deny the allegations, saying they are politically motivated.

The prosecution is linked to a criminal investigation into Ramiz Mehdiyev, the influential former head of Azerbaijan's presidential administration.

Pro-government media outlets have claimed Mehdiyev wrote a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin to propose establishing a transitional government in the country.

Mehdiyev's response to the allegations is not publicly known, but Karimli has previously denied any cooperation with him.

The wide-ranging investigation has also targeted other opposition figures.

Jamil Hasanli, chairman of the National Council opposition coalition, was recently questioned by the State Security Service (DTX).

Meanwhile, fellow National Council member Gultekin Hajibeyli was deported from Turkey to Azerbaijan, and former deputy prime minister Abbas Abbasov has been placed on an international wanted list.