The Baku Court of Appeal refused to transfer one of the leaders of the National Council of Democratic Forces (NCDF) and the Musavat party, Tofig Yagublu, from a pre-trial detention center to house arrest. During the meeting, he harshly criticized the judges and the ruling regime of Azerbaijan.

“Since 1993, I have no rights. How long can I be arrested on false charges? Not a single judge has yet made a fair decision,” Yagublu was indignant.

Tofig Yagublu was detained on December 14 last year on charges of fraud and forgery of documents. The politician has previously been repeatedly subjected to criminal and administrative prosecution. International organizations recognized him as a prisoner of conscience. In the pre-trial detention center, Tofig Yagublu repeatedly went on hunger strike.

Previously, the leading opposition party Popular Front of Azerbaijan (PFA) stated that the country's authorities are not releasing political prisoners, but are increasing their number with new arrests. Now there are over 200 people.

Political arrests and sentences have become the main tool of the administration of current President Ilham Aliyev, the PFA statement said. The party called on the Azerbaijani public to more decisively protect political prisoners. Previously, these phenomena were repeatedly condemned by international human rights organizations, as well as by the governments of Europe and the United States.