Zeynalabdin Bagirzade, an activist with the Azerbaijan Popular Front Party’s (APFP) Babek district branch in the c Autonomous Republic, has been arrested, reported his brother, Yashar Bagirsoy, the branch chairman, on November 18.
“On November 14, five employees of the local Social Protection Fund came to Zeynalabdin Bagirzade’s apartment, but he was not at home. They told his wife that he had to pay social security fees. One of the Social Protection Fund employees, Faig Ismayilov, cursed my brother’s wife. When he found out about this, Zeynalabdin went to the State Social Protection Fund to seek an explanation of their actions. They cursed my brother too and physically assaulted him together with two other men. They threw my brother out after beating him. He has filed a complaint with the Babek District Prosecutor’s Office of Nakhchivan in connection with the incident,” said Yashay Bagirsoy.
According to Yashar Bagirsoy, Zeynalabdin Bagirzade was called to the Prosecutor’s Office on November 16; his complaint was rejected and he was detained as a suspect under Article 315 of the Criminal Code (resisting authorities).
Yashar Bagirsoy claims that Zeynalabdin Bagirzade was tortured at the prosecutor’s office. Bagirzade is expected to be brought before a judge today.
Bagirzade was previously arrested and convicted in 2012 for protesting against the shut down of the village water supply. His prison sentence was later commuted to suspended sentence. He was subjected to torture at the time of his arrest.