Azerbaijan: opposition supporter from Saatli District complains about beating by policemen

Ruslan Akhmedov, a resident of the village of Gomushchu, Saatli District of Azerbaijan, states the pressure used against him by the authorities and the use of police violence. He attributed this to his criticism of local authorities and his support of the opposition presidential candidate Jamil Gasanli.

Let us remind you that the presidential election in Azerbaijan is scheduled for October 9. On September 12, the CEC registered Jamil Gasanli, the candidate from the National Council of Democratic Forces (NCDF).

Ruslan Akhmedov, 27, has reported that on September 12 he was called to the Saatli District Police without any official summon.

"They began cursing me for my contacts with the opposition, for my signing in support of the oppositional politician Jamil Gasanli. Then, I received several blows in my ribs, face and head. Now I feel bad, my ribs hurt, and it's hard to breathe. This pressure is exerted on me for political reasons and because of my criticism of district bosses in social networks," Ruslan Akhmedov said in his interview to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

He has added that earlier he had been a member of the ruling Party "Yeni Azerbaijan" (PYA), but later, in protest against the "lawlessness of local authorities and the police" he decided to leave the party.

The Saatli District Police has denied the facts of Akhmedov's invitation there and the fact of his beating.