Baku hosts rally for collecting books for convicted oppositionist Elnur Medjidli

In the centre of Baku, a group of activists of the Youth Committee of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA) carried out a rally to support Elnur Medjidli, their convicted colleague. The event was held in the form of collecting books.

Arzuman Medjidli, the father of Elnur Medjidli, has reported that the colony No. 17, where his son is serving his sentence, has no library and Elnur Medjidli needs books to read. The activists of the Youth Committee of the PFPA announced through the press and the social network about holding on February 10 the action for collecting books in Baku in Fountain Square next to the cafe "McDonalds".

"The action was aimed not only to collecting books, but also, in general, to attract the public attention to absence of opportunities to read in the penitentiaries. Prisoners are kept in large numbers in barracks, and they cannot read because of noise," said Abulfaz Gurbanly, the head of the Youth Committee of the PFPA.

Young people were holding a portrait of Elnur Medjidli that attracted the attention of police, and three participants of the action protesters Islam Sheekhali, Togrul Ibragim, and Agil Aliev, members of the Youth Committee of the PFPA, were detained. They were brought to the 9th police station of the Sabail District Police Department, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports.

According to Abulfaz Gurbanly, the detainees were accused of holding the unsanctioned action, and police officers tried to force them that fact in an explanatory letter. However, the young men refused to write the explanatory letter. The police pronounced a verbal warning and released the detainees 1.5 hour later.

According to Abulfaz Gurbanly, despite the interference of the police "the action was successful." "Despite cold and blizzards, the young people responded to our call. In total, we collected 15 books. And it is not bad. We will continue such actions," Abulfaz Gurbanly said.

The unit on duty of the 9th police station refused to comment. However, police officers confirmed that young men were detained and released after "preventive talks".