Azerbaijan uses any pretext to get rid of oppositionists

PanARMENIAN.Net - The chairman of Azerbaijan National Statehood (ANSP) opposition party Nemat Panahli has been sentenced to six years imprisonment.

Another defendant in this case - Ceyhun Farzullaev was sentenced to four years imprisonment at the trial, held at the Narimanov District Court.

Baku resident Eldaniz Rzayev called the Interior Ministry's service 102 and informed that Nemat Panahli and Ceyhun Farzullayev had threatened him on the Mirali Gashqai street of the Nizami district. Based on the complaint, the abovementioned persons were arrested.

A criminal has been filed under the Article 221.3 (hooliganism committed with application of a weapon or subjects, used as the weapon) of the Criminal Code.

Two months arrest as a preventive measure was taken with regards to Panahli and Farzullayev by the Nasimi District Court on Jan.10.

According to the Interior Ministry, the investigation revealed that a dispute took place during a car purchase deal

Rzayev, who was subjected to beating, bought a car from Panahli. On the day of the incident on the Mirali Gashqai Street, technical problems were identified in the car. Rzayev phoned Panahli and reported the problems. Panahli met Rzayev and as a result of a dispute, beat the buyer, according to Trend News.

However, Panahli himself denies the accusations, stressing that the authorities are persecuting him for oppositon activities.

ANSP leader failed to make it to Azerbaijani parliament at last year's elections. He accused the authorities of falsifying the votes, urging the public against acknoledging the legitimacy of the parliaemtn and acting authorities, Lenta.ru reported.