Two ReAl activists arrested for seven days

In the evening on August 15, Elshan Gasymov and Togrul Ismail, two activists of movement ReAl (Real Alternative), were arrested by policemen in Baku. They both are authorized representatives of the ReAl initiative group for referendum on amendments to the Constitution.

According to the advocate Elchin Sadygov, after detention, the activists Elshan Gasymov and Togrul Ismail were taken to the 9^th station of the Sabail District Police Department. Then, they were taken to the court which ruled to arrest them for seven days each, said the advocate, who is representing the detainees'' interests.

According to Mr Sadygov, Elshan Gasymov and Togrul Ismail were charged with illegal distribution of campaign posters reading "Say no to amendments to the Constitution!"

"In fact, the activists were on their way to the printing shop to pick up the posters. They planned to start spreading them after the start of the campaign, that is, after August 22," said Elchin Sadygov, adding that "together with the young people, a seven-day administrative arrest was imposed on Bakhruz Gumbatov, the head of the printing shop."

The arrest judgement will be appealed against, said the advocate.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.