All the people detained during an action of protest in front of the building of Public TV in Baku released

All the people detained on May, 24, during an action of protest of Civil Movement for Democracy "Public Chamber" (CMDPC) in front of the building of Public TV of Azerbaijan and before its beginning were released by evening. Several activists were fined, Informational Center of CMDPC reported.

According to Informational Center of CMDPC, over 60 persons all in all were detained, most of them taken out of the city by buses and released in 35th kilometer of Baku-Shamakhy highway.

Some of the activists were brought before the court and sentenced to administrative fines. In particular, activist of People's Front of Azerbaijan party (PFAP) Ramiz Kamal was fined to 70 manats (about $85), deputies Chairman of "Musavat" party Giulaga Asanly and Tofig Yagublu were fined to 20 manats ($24,5) each.

In spite of the policemen's violent actions and detentions of the activists, the action was a success, leader of PFAP Ali Kerimli considers.

"In fact, we had not planned a big action, it was just a picket. However, by cruel suppression of this small picket the authorities themselves evoked widespread responses to this event. The incident took place before the very eyes of many foreign journalists who came to "Eurovision" contest, Kerimli said.

He added that even in spite of "preventive detentions" of the activists before the picket and patrolling the approach to the building of Public TV by the police and people wearing civilian attire, supporters of the opposition managed to make their way to the building and chant their slogans.

All the detained participants of the oppositional picket were released, Head of Press service of the Ministry of Interior Affairs Ehsan Zakhidov confirmed. According to him, a group of persons was detained, however he did not specify the number of people. "Everyone was released including eight persons sentenced to administrative fines", Zakhidov said.