In Baku, police detains 18 oppositional protesters

During the today's attempt of the Civil Movement for Democracy "Public Chamber" (CMDPC) to hold an unauthorized protest action the police detained 18 people. They were released after warning, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) reports.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that today in the capital of Azerbaijan the police have stopped an action of the CMDPC with a demand of the freedom of assembly, held in protest against the refusal of the Baku Mayoralty to sanction a march-rally of the Movement on May 13.

As stated by Orkhan Mansurzade, an employee of the press service of the Azerbaijani MIA, today a group of people tried to hold a picket not authorized by the executive power of Baku. The police have prevented the attempt by detaining 18 persons. 10 of them were released after oral warning, and 8 - after receiving a written warning in the administrative order, the APA reports.

The police detained virtually everyone, whom they considered to be a potential participant in the action, including passers-by, the "Contact.az" reports with reference to the "Turan" News Agency.

Gyulyaga Aslanly, a member of the CMDPC, has treated the dispersal of the peaceful rally as a gross violation of citizens' rights to the freedom of assembly and self-expression. He has also blamed the police for "brutality and inadequate use of force."