Member of Azerbaijani Opposition Party Dies Due to Torture, Expert Claims

Political expert Varuzhan Geghamyan wrote on his Facebook page: “According to some sources, Fuad Gehremenli, a member of the leadership of one of Azerbaijan's main opposition parties, the Azerbaijan Popular Front Party (Azərbaycan Xalq Cəbhəsi Partiyası), has died as a result of beating and torture. He was arrested on July 15 after the well-known protests in Baku, accused of attempting a coup.

If confirmed, this news could become an important pivot for our diplomacy.

A passage from the book by me and Edgar Elbakian titled 'Modern Azerbaijan' regarding this party states: ‘The Azerbaijan Popular Front Party was established in the early days of modern independence on July 16, 1989, by Abulfaz Elchibey and 14 others. During the years of Abulfaz Elchibey's presidency from 1992 to 1993, it was his political and military support, possessing armed groups both inside the country and on the front line. Since 2000, the party has been led by Ali Karimli. The last time the party managed to overcome the electoral threshold in the Milli Mejlis elections was in 2005 (5 seats). The number of members is estimated at approximately 50,000.’