In Azerbaijan, IRFS reporter detained on suspicion of disorderly conduct

Mekhman Guseinov, the correspondent of the Institute for Reporters' Freedom and Safety (IRFS), was detained in Azerbaijan. He is suspected of having committed acts of hooliganism.

Today, at 6:00 p.m., Mekhman Guseinov was summoned to the Sabail District Police Department of the city of Baku. After three hours of interrogation, he was informed that he was detained on suspicion of committing acts that fall under Article 221.1 (hooliganism) of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan.

Emin Guseinov, Director of the IRFS and the detainee's brother, has told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that Mekhman Guseinov faces charges of using obscene language in regard to a police officer during a video filming of the protest action of the Civil Movement for Democracy "Public Chamber" (CMDPC) held on May 21.

The Director of the IRFS claimed mendacity and insolvency of accusations. He believes that the reporter "is being prosecuted on political grounds for his journalist activities."

Rasul Djafarov, the leader of the "Club for Human Rights", also believes that Mekhman Guseinov is being prosecuted for his professional activities. "Mekhman Guseinov carried out video filming of 'hot events', and his filming recorded violence and arbitrariness of the police against members of the opposition protest actions, and the citizens, who resisted when being deprived of their real properties. In general, this is a pressure on the IRFS," Rasul Djafarov has concluded.