Ali Amirhuseyn oglu Karimli – Chairman of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan Date of arrest: 29 November 2025 Charge: Article 278.1 (Actions directed on violent seizure power or violent deduction power in infringement of the Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan, as well as directed on violent change of constitutional grounds of the states) of the Criminal Code of the Azerbaijan Republic. On 1 December 2025, the Baku City Sabayil District Court sentenced Ali Karimli to 2 months and 15 days in a pre-trial detention center Place of detention: Pre-trial Detention Center of the State Security Service Conclusion: Following the search of Ali Karimli house by the State Security Service (SSS) officers, Mr Karimli was detained on 29 November 2025, and subsequently was taken to the SSS Headquarters where he had been held for two days without any contact with the outside world. Several other members of the APFP were also detained upon their house searches. Pro-government media spread the version that the search and arrest of the PFPA leader was related to the criminal case against 87-year-old former Presidential Administration head, Ramiz Mehdiyiev, who, on 14 October 2025, was sentenced to four months of house arrest on charges of ‘treason’ and ‘violent seizure of power,’ that he attempted to carry out with the Russian support. However, according to Seymur Hazi, the PFPA Deputy Chairman, the SSS officers entered Ali Karimli's house knocking at his door under the name of his neighbour: "When the door opened, they came into the residence. One of them placed a letter from Ramiz Mehdiyev, well-known to the public, in a cupboard. Then they allegedly found it during the search. It is definitely a provocation. The PFPA categorically denies the existence of such a letter." The letter in question was published on 27 October 2025, by pro-government media and allegedly written by Ramiz Mehdiyev, in which he wrote about a coup d'état and the need for serious changes in Azerbaijani governing structures. This official version was immediately mocked by many in the Azerbaijani society. Not only because it is unknown whether this letter actually belongs to Ramiz Mehdiyev rather than to the Azerbaijani special services. It also fails to explain why Ali Karimli, an experienced politician, who has been under pressure from the authorities and threatened with arrest in recent years, kept it at his place even a month later, despite being aware of the wild propaganda campaign over it. The main reason for the scepticism in the Azerbaijani society is that Ramiz Mehdiyev and Ali Karimli have been known to be in stark contrast to each other. While Ramiz Mehtiyev was not only the leader of pro-Russian forces in Azerbaijan and even, to a certain extent, a symbol of Russia, whereas Ali Karimli and his party have been fierce opponents and symbolised the struggle against Russia for the last three decades. That is why Ali Karimli immediately refuted all accusations against him and categorically refused to provide any testimony, while the PFPA issued a statement claiming that the real purpose of his arrest was the authorities attempt to wipe out the only independent opposition 85 party that publicly criticised the ruling regime in Azerbaijan on a daily basis. The PFPA statement reads ‘We declare that Ali Karimli's detention is exclusively politically motivated. In recent years, the authorities have virtually blocked his activities. Nevertheless, Ali Karimli remains one of the key figures in the democratic movement in Azerbaijan". The arrest of the PFPA leader has prompted a high-profile reaction abroad. The Amnesty International has issued a statement: “Ali Karimli’s detention is the latest outrage in the ongoing consolidation of authoritarian practices in Azerbaijan. There appear to be no limits to the government’s campaign to crush all political opposition and suppress all dissent in the country. While few are prepared to openly challenge the authorities, the decision to arrest an opposition leader, hold him incommunicado and press dubious charges of ‘attempted seizure of power’ against him, sends a chilling warning to anyone who may have doubts as to how far the Azerbaijani government is prepared to go.”