Azerbaijani activist who died in SIZO was detained for picket

Mekhman Galandarov, who died in the Baku SIZO (pre-trial prison), was a regular participant of oppositional actions. He was detained in February for his picket at the monument to the father of the incumbent President of Azerbaijan, but then accused for illegal drug dealing and placed in custody.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Galandarov's death was announced today by his friends and relatives. According to their story, he committed suicide. Galandarov was put by rights defenders on the updated list of political prisoners, released on April 1, 2017.

Ogtai Gyulyalyev, The head of the Public Alliance "Azerbaijan without Political Prisoners", told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that Galandarov was a well-known civil activist in the country and took part in many anti-government actions.

"In Tbilisi, he participated in the action under the slogan: ‘On the Slaves’ Holiday!’, dedicated to the defence of rights of Bairam Mamedov and Giyas Ibragimov, convicted in Azerbaijan after they wrote a similar slogan on the monument to Geidar Aliev. He posted photos of these actions on the Facebook; and, apparently, because of that he was noticed by law enforcement bodies of Azerbaijan," said Gyulyalyev.

He added that upon Mekhman’s return to Baku, he went to the monument to Geidar Aliev and tried to hold a solo picket there, but was detained by policemen, and on the same day arrested on charges of illegal drug dealing.

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