"Nida" activist Zametdinov put in jail for 10 days in Azerbaijan

Today, Mekhman Zametdinov, an activist of the civil movement "Nida" (Shout), was detained by the police and subjected to administrative arrest for 10 days, said Elmin Badalov, the spokesman for the movement. The Khatain District Court has confirmed the decision to arrest Zametdinov, but did not specify what he was accused of.

"So far, we don't know the charges against him and whether he was provided with a lawyer. But we believe that Mekhman was arrested for taking part in yesterday's action in Baku in solidarity with protesters in Turkey. Mekhman's photos from the action were placed on the Facebook," said Badalov.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on June 3, in the capital of Azerbaijan, the police prevented a group of young people from trying to hold a rally of solidarity with the demonstrators in Istanbul, where actions are held against the authorities' efforts to start building up the TaksimPark.

Mr Badalov has noted that the action was not organized by the "Nida" – it was a spontaneous demonstration; he has treated Zametdinov's arrest as evidence of the "incessant repressions against the 'Nida'."

Let us remind you that in the period from March 7 to April 1 seven other "Nida" activists were also detained in Baku. Young people faced charges of illegal possession of drugs and (or) explosives. The Amnesty International has announced the arrested activists to be "prisoners of conscience".