Last Board Member of Muslim Union Movement Arrested

On 16 March, Nasimi District Court chaired by Judge Babak Hasanov ordered the pre-trial detention of Muslim Union Movement’s (MUM) Board member Elkhan Sayadulla oglu Isgandarov for a period of 3 months 11 days, lawyer Fariz Namazli has said.

According to the lawyer, Elkhan Isgandarov was arrested during a raid to his house by officers of Sabunchu Police Department at night of 14 to 15 March. Isgandarov rejected the charges in court and denied having committed any crime. He noted that he had organised a football tournament by the order of MUM and went into hiding out of fear when MUM members were arrested. Isgandarov was the last member of MUM Board who was not behind bars.

Lawyer Fariz Namazli said he would appeal the arrest decision.

Note that, Elkhan Isgandarov was charged under Articles 315.2 and 221.3 of the Criminal Code and was declared wanted on 2 December 2015, in the wake of the Nardaran events. On 13 May 2016, the charges against him were re-classified to Articles 28, 214.2.1, 28, 214.2.3, 214-2, 220.2, 228.3, 228.4, 278, 279.1, 281.2 and 283.2.3 of the Criminal Code. Meantime, the police had been hunting for Elkhan.