Derbent: police disrupts rally against renaming Sovietskaya Street, organizers assert

Derbent policemen did not allow holding a rally against renaming Sovietskaya Street into Geidar Aliev Street, the organizers report.

Yesterday, on June 7, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was assured at the administration of Derbent that the rally against the renaming of the street had been sanctioned. The organizers claim that the decision to rename the main city street in honour of the former President of Azerbaijan Geidar Aliev, adopted by the City Assembly of Derbent on May 8, did not take into account the citizens' opinion.

The rally was to be held in the park in Sovietskaya Street. Since morning, Derbent policemen have cordoned off the venue and blocked all the entrances, the organizers have reported.

Policemen blocked the access saying that the rally "was not sanctioned; and they had an order from above to prevent people from gathering," one of the would-be participants told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

In their turn, the organizers of the rally told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that 14 persons were detained and noted that all of them were soon released.

So far, the "Caucasian Knot" has no comments of law enforcement bodies and the city administration regarding the disruption of the action.