Press release

Foreign Office Minister concerned about arrest of Azerbaijani politician

A number of political activists, including Natig Jafarli, have been arrested in Azerbaijan in recent days.

• From: Foreign & Commonwealth Office and The Rt Hon Sir Alan Duncan KCMG
• Published: 17 August 2016

This was published under the 2016 to 2019 May Conservative government

On 12 August 2016 the Executive Secretary of the Republican Alternative Movement (REAL) Natig Jafarli was sentenced to four months of pre-trial detention on questionable charges of illegal entrepreneurship and the abuse of official power. A number of other political activists have also been arrested over the last few days.

The Minister for Europe and the Americas, Sir Alan Duncan, said:

I am concerned by the recent arrests of a number of political opposition figures, including Republican Alternative Movement (REAL) Executive Secretary Natig Jafarli.

I call on Azerbaijan to abide by its international commitments, and to improve its record, on human rights and the rule of law.

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Published 17 August 2016