Abbas Abbasov, Ganimat Zahid, and Fuad Gahramanli arrested in absentia

Editor-in-chief of the Azadlıq newspaper Ganimat Zayidov (Ganimat Zahid), deputy chairman of the "Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan" (PFPA) Fuad Gahramanli, and Abbas Abbasov have been arrested in absentia.

As reported by BAKU.WS, this is stated in the information from the State Security Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan (RA).

It is noted that G. Zayidov, since the beginning of 2013, on behalf of PFPA chairman Ali Karimli, entering into secret relations with representatives of foreign country's special services agencies, conducted negotiations, requested to use the extensive organizational and special capabilities of foreign special services agencies to ensure his coming to power in the Republic of Azerbaijan, in return promising to ensure the strategic interests of the foreign state in Azerbaijan, consistently outlining specific details, the parties also agreed that in case of A. Karimli coming to power, the Republic of Azerbaijan would gradually become a full member of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).

At the same time, according to the indictment, A. Karimli, continuing his criminal actions in accordance with a pre-agreed general arrangement with the above-mentioned persons, on the night of July 14-15, 2020, when Azerbaijani citizens went on a march in Baku in support of the army and against the aggressive war unleashed by Armenia in the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan, gave instructions to Fuad Gahramanli and other persons to join the march participants, organizing small groups together with persons represented in the party, then replacing patriotic slogans with provocative appeals, create a chaotic situation, controlling the crowd, take advantage of this situation, seize the administrative buildings of the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan and CJSC "Azerbaijan Television and Radio Broadcasting", including his intention to announce the seizure of power through the media.

For participation in criminal acts, Abbas Abbasov, Ali Karimli, Fuad Gahramanli, Mammad Ibrahim and Ganimat Zayidov were held accountable as defendants under articles 278.1 (actions aimed at violent seizure or violent retention of power, as well as violent change of the constitutional structure of the state), Eldar Amirov - 32.5, 278.1 (assistance in actions aimed at violent seizure or violent retention of power, as well as violent change of the constitutional structure of the state), Ramiz Mehdiyev - 193-1.3.2 (legalization of large property obtained by criminal means), 274 (treason) and 278.1 (actions aimed at violent seizure or violent retention of power, as well as violent change of the constitutional structure of the state) of the Criminal Code of the RA.

Due to the fact that Abbas Abbasov, Fuad Gahramanli and Ganimat Zayidov are outside the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan and are hiding from the investigation, they were put on the wanted list, and the court decided on a preventive measure in the form of detention in absentia.