Togrul Ismayilov, head of opposition Republican Alternative (ReAl) Movement’s Sabail-Nasimi Assembly, and Elshan Gasimov, deputy head of ReAl’s Binagadi Assembly, were questioned by an employee of the State Security Service on August 15, the youth activists’ lawyer Elchin Sadigov has said. Elshan Gasimov and Togrul Ismayilov have been sentenced to 7-day administrative detention by Sabail District Court. The youth activists have been convicted under Article 535 (wilful disobedience to lawful requirements of a police or military officer) of the Administrative Offences Code.
According to Elchin Sadigov, Togrul Ismayilov and Elshan Gasimov were taken to Baku City Main Police Department on August 16 and Orkhan Babayev, investigator of Serious Crimes Investigation Department of Prosecutor General’s Office, interrogated them for more than 3 hours.
“The questions asked during the interrogation were about the ReAl Movement and its arrested Executive Secretary Natig Jafarli. The youths were again questioned on August 17. This time, an employee of the State Security Service also participated in the interrogation. I should note that it is contrary to the law to transport persons held in custody to another place. So, we will file complaints with relevant authorities over their illegal transfer to Baku City Main Police Department,” Elchin Sadigov said.
Background: ReAl’s Executive Secretary Natig Jafarli was arrested on August 12 on charges of illegal business activity and abuse of power and was sentenced to 4-month pre-trial detention by Nasimi District Court. And, ReAl Movement chairman Ilgar Mammadov has been in prison for three and a half years.