Police disperses oppositional protest action in central Baku

In Baku, the police have dispersed a joint protest action of the oppositional parties "Musavat" and the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA), held with the demands of the freedom of assembly, ensuring the democratic character of the parliamentary elections to be held on November 7 and account of the national interests of Azerbaijan at negotiations on Karabakh settlement.

The organizers of the action kept its venue a secret till the very last moment to avoid intervention of the police. However, back on July 30 the Baku police and the Prosecutor's Office of the capital warned the PFPA and the "Musavat" about illegality of their Saturday action in the city centre.

Today, from the morning, reinforced police units were deployed in all central squares and parks of the city. Prior to the start of the action, some activists of the opposition were detained.

Journalists were informed about the place of the action 30 minutes before its start. At about 4:45 p.m. local time, the first group of PFPA activists appeared before the "Nargiz" Shopping Centre in the Fountains Square, scanning "Freedom!", "Free elections!" and "Resign!" Policemen started dispersing them at once and detained some 15-20 persons. Five minutes later another group of the same number was detained. According to eyewitnesses, policemen closed with their hands the mouths of those who cried out "Resign!"

At about 5:00 p.m. local time, a big group of "Musavat" activists appeared in the square, scanning the same slogans and bearing posters with similar content in their hands. Many of them were also detained. Under preliminary data, the total number of detainees made some 80-100 persons.