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Azerbaijani law-enforcement agencies detained Natig Karimov, the Chairman of the Board of Elders of the village Nardaran. A criminal case is initiated against him, according to the local news agency Report.

Natig Karimov is accused under the Article 274 of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan (high treason, that is, a deliberate action committed by a citizen of the Azerbaijan Republic to detriment of the sovereignty, territorial integrity, state security or defensibility of the Azerbaijan Republic: changeover to enemy side, espionage, distribution of the state secret to foreign state, rendering assistance to a foreign state, foreign organisation or their representatives in realisation of hostile activity against the Azerbaijan Republic).

Karimov has reportedly been taken to Sabail District Court, where he is expected to face trial and a proposal to use arrest as a preventive measure against him will be heard. According to the agency, the activities referred to in Article 274 are punished with from ten to fifteen years’ imprisonment or life imprisonment with confiscation of property or without.

According to Turan agency, the Special State Protection Service of Azerbaijan detained Karimov in Nardaran on January 6 in the noon. Karimov’s son says their family is not aware what is he concretely incriminated for.

On 26 November, armed clashes occurred between the leader of the Shia Islamists of Azerbaijan, Taleh Bagirzade (Taleh Bagirov), and his supporters and the police in the settlement Nardaran 25 km to the north from Baku. Seven were killed during the clashes, including two police officers and five believers. Law enforcement agencies said police had detained 15 Islamists including Taleh Bagirzade, chairman of Muslims Unity movement, during the special operation. Criminal case was initiated against all the detainees and four-month arrest was used as preventive measure against them.

According to the reports, the police carried out the special operation during the daytime prayer inciting the believers’ strong discontent. A group of Special Forces in black masks broke into the shrine Huseyniyye, where Muslims were praying, and threw smoke bombs inside. Then they pushed black sacks on Taleh Bagirzade and some others’ heads and dragged them out of the place. In addition, some drugs were given to several people, which made them faint. Immediately after that, mass unrest broke out in Nardaran. The village had no electricity and telephone communication, police cars and armoured vehicles blocked the streets. The locals also started to complain of the lack of food supplies because of the limited access of trading companies’ cars into the settlement. Nardaran was practically in blockade.