Elbay Karimli, a member of the Azerbaijan Popular Front Party (APFP) who was in custody, reportedly committed suicide on December 12 at the medical unit of Penitentiary Institution No. 2.
APFP told Meydan TV that Elbay Karimli hanged himself in the prison’s medical unit. The reason for the suicide is unknown.
The Ministry of Justice stated that an investigation is being conducted at the Khazar District Prosecutor’s Office regarding the death of Elbay Karimli.
Elbay Karimli was arrested in August 2023 after writing “Stalin” on a statue of Heydar Aliyev.
“Because I wrote ‘Stalin’ on the back of Heydar Aliyev’s statue, I am here today. At the police station, they told me, ‘Choose either drugs or weapons, or you will be charged with treason against the homeland. We will download pictures of military objects from your phone and accuse you of transmitting military secrets to Armenia or Iran.’ My throat went dry from what I heard. They said, ‘Don’t end up like Giyas, with 1 kilo taken from your house…,’” Elbay Karimli told his lawyer after being detained.
In 2024, the Baku Court of Grave Crimes sentenced him to six years in prison under the Criminal Code for possession of a large quantity of drugs with intent to sell.
Later, the Supreme Court reduced his sentence to five years by removing the element of intent to sell.
Currently, more than 20 members of APFP are in detention.
The party’s chairman, Ali Karimli, and Executive Committee member Mammad Ibrahim were arrested on December 1 and accused of attempting to forcibly seize power and change the constitutional order of the state. They were detained for 2 months and 15 days.
The party considers these arrests politically motivated.
