Two more social network users detained in Azerbaijan

Azerbaijani police continue detaining users of social networks in the context of the mass anti-government action named the "Great People's Day", scheduled by the members of the group set up on the Facebook under the same name.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that a group was created on the social network named "March 11 - Great People's Day", where the organizers call for the users to demonstrate their civil stand and express their will for democratic changes in Azerbaijan.

On March 7, the Chief Department for Combating Organized Crime (GUBOP) of the Azerbaijani Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) interrogated employees of the Institute for Reporters Freedom and Safety (IRFS) - photo correspondent Mekhman Guseinov and driver Abulfaz Namazov.

Mr Guseinov was questioned for involvement in the action "March 11 - Great People's Day".

"They also believe that the activities of the group and actions of young people are backed up by Americans," said Guseinov.

Abulfaz Namazov, was questioned, as he said later, about his duties, residence of the head of the IRFS Emin Guseinov, and about the staff and salaries of employees of the Institute.

Emin Guseinov, head of the IRFS, described the event as "legal lawlessness, and pressure on activists and the Institute."

Meanwhile, information appeared about Dayanat Babaev, an activist of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA), who gave no news about him since March 4. Only the evening on March 6 it became known that he had been detained and put under administrative arrest for 10 days on charges of disobeying to policemen. Today, he was visited by advocate Asabali Mustafaev at the temporary detention facility of the Binagadin District of Baku.

Mustafaev said that the health of his client was normal; Babaev did not complain about custody conditions. The lawyer told about his intention to lodge an appeal complaint noting that Babaev's arrest was "illegal." "He was detained on March 4 at 11 a.m. near the Central Bank. He was walking down the street and talking on the mobile phone. Policemen came up to him and accused of violating the public order. The court's ruling says that Dayan Babaev had resisting the law enforcers and because of that was taken to the police," said the lawyer.

Babaev asked about the reason of his detention and was told that it had to do with the opposition rally scheduled for March 11. At the police station they arranged his confrontation with four policemen, whom he had never seen before. They asserted that Babaev had insulted them, as lawyer Mustafaev narrated the words of his client.

However, Orkhan Mansurzade, representative of the press service of the MIA, denied the information about politically motivated persecution of the activist and employees of the IRFS. Without going into details, he stated that the police did not pursue anyone for their beliefs and statements in the media; and allegations about such alleged facts had nothing to do with reality.

Along with that, Mr Mansurzade confirmed that the MIA knows about the mass actions planned for March 11 and warned that any unauthorized rallies and marches would be stopped by the police.

A group of well-known figures of the civil society of Azerbaijan urged the authorities to "stop repressions against activists." They demanded immediate release of the detainees: Dzhabbar Savalan, Bakhtiyar Gadjiev and Dayanat Babaev.

"The situation becomes dramatic. The authorities are pursuing youth men in the Facebook social network, insulting and threatening them through dummy profiles. The civil society will not tolerate this," said Arastun Orudzhlu, head of the "East-West Research Centre".

Intigam Aliev, head of the Society of Legal Enlightenment, expressed his support for the youth group, which has declared March 11 to be the "Great People's Day". According to his version, the youth has their constitutional right to the freedom of assembly, and the society should not be quietly contemplating the pursuit of youngsters.

Human rights activist Ilgar Ibragimoglu stated the total violation of human rights and freedoms and citizens' dignity and honour. He called to consolidate the efforts of the civil society.

Emin Guseinov, Director of the Institute for Reporters' Freedom and Safety (IRFS), said that before that meeting 5 persons in civilian clothes appeared at the office and tried to find out the purpose of the event. He described it as "an evidence of political shadowing of civil society activists."

The statement of the participants of the meeting calls citizens to "raise their protest voices and render resistance to repressions waged by the authorities." They demanded that power agencies, officials and judges "renounce violence against citizens and boycott illegitimate orders."

The authorities were encouraged to respect the freedom of expression, press and assembly.

In the evening on March 7 the US Embassy in Baku issued a statement in the context of activists' arrests.

"Ambassador of the USA Matthew Bryza and the US Embassy are closely monitoring the reports about detention of Bakhtiyar Gadjiev on March 4 in the city of Gyandzha, and, in particular, the facts that he was offended and deprived of legal aid. We urge the government of Azerbaijan to observe the rule of law, conduct the due trial and ensure - within the bounds of the Azerbaijani legislation - all Mr Gadjiev's rights as a defendant, including the right to legal assistance and, if necessary, to medical care," says the statement of the US Embassy.

"We will also closely monitor the cases of other recently arrested activists," says the statement.

Earlier, Elnur Medzhidli, one of the founders of the group, who lives now in Strasbourg, reported that there was no concrete plan of the action. "Citizens will act at their discretion. Some will take to the streets, while others, may be, will demonstrate their protest individually, for example, by hanging flags on their balconies," he stressed.

Six out of the seven founders of the group are abroad. Mr Medzhidli explained it "by persecution of dissidents in Azerbaijan" and the danger of conducting organizational works in the country.

On March 7 the founders of the group moved the action from March 11 to March 9 with no explanations on the Facebook.

Some users do not support the group, believing that it acts under the influence of external forces hostile to Azerbaijan and has no support inside the country.

This is also the opinion of Dzheikhun Osmanly, head of the pro-governmental youth organization "Irali!" (Forward!) and an Azerbaijani MP. In his view, the action was planned from "outside" and is intended to destabilize the situation in the country.

An alternative group was launched on the Facebook named "In support of stability and development with Ilham Aliev"; its organizers are against protest actions and note the need to maintain stability in the country and solidarity of the people "in the name of solving the Karabakh problem and restore the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan."