Azerbaijan: activist who defended rights of flood victims detained

Ilham Amiraslanov, a local activist of the civil society, was detained in the Sabirabad District of Azerbaijan detained. The office of the civil society "Kura" and human rights activists treat the detention as pressure on the people who try to protect their rights.

Amiraslanov was detained in the morning of June 8 near the village of Askerbeili, where he lives. According to the office of the "Kura", at about 2:00 p.m. Amiraslanov was delivered to his home, accompanied by six cars and persons armed with submachine guns in camouflage, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports.

According to the information received by the "Kura" from eyewitnesses, Amiraslanov was forced to take some object in the basement of his house; and this action was photographed. The office people do not rule out that they could have planted weapons or drugs on Amiraslanov.

Ilham Amiraslanov actively campaigned for the rights of the people affected by the floods of the Kura and Araz Rivers in May-June 2010.

In protest against Amiraslanov's detention, more than 100 villagers decided to go to the representatives of the executive power of the Sabairabad District; however, the way was blocked by a special police unit; and people were forced to retreat and return to the village.

Despite the fact that more than a day has elapsed after Amiraslanov's detention, his relatives are not given any official information about Amiraslanov's whereabouts, and what he is accused of. Because of this, the family and the office of the "Kura" can not hire an advocate for Ilham.