Clashes in central Baku between oppositionists and police

According to preliminary data, more than 50 oppositionists were detained during a rally in the capital of Azerbaijan. The opposition rally turned into clashes with law enforcers.

Today in the mrning the police cordoned off all the access roads to the central streets of Baku in preparation for an unauthorized opposition rally. Several oppositionists who managed to get to the Fountain Square were detained.

Nevertheless, the opposition managed to hold local actions in other parts of the city. The longest one was held by a group of activists near the Sakhil metro station. Initially, policemen managed to squeeze young people toward Primorskiy Boulevard. However later, the activists went in direction of Nizami (Torgovaya) Street.

On their way, they stopped the bus with earlier detained activists and released some of them. Gradually the group formed into a column of demonstrators numbering some 300-400 persons. They marched, scanned "Freedom!", "Ilham! Resign!" and carried the tricolour banner of Azerbaijan in front of the column.

The police could not catch up with the young marchers. Only in the area of the railway station, the redeployed agents of the fast-reaction regiment began detaining them. With the help of truncheons, they managed to detain about 15 persons.

However, activists continued marching along Azadlyg Avenue and were stopped only near the US Embassy. Thus, the protesters managed to walk for about 1.5-2 kilometres along the central streets of Baku and draw attention to their action. Traffic was suspended as they walked, and some drivers expressed solidarity with the protesters by honking.

Policemen restricted the opportunities for journalists' work and tried to squeeze them off. Those who filmed and videoed were driven away or otherwise prevented from doing their job.