Journalists beaten in the course of election campaign in Azerbaijan

Local media have reported that unidentified persons have attacked and beaten several journalists. It happened at an election campaign rally in support of Jamil Gasanli, the presidential candidate of the National Council Democratic Forces (NCDF) of Azerbaijan, held in the city of Sabirabad.

The incident took place on October 4: a group of journalists, who covered the election rally of Jamil Gasanli, were attacked after the event by a group of unidentified persons. People with pins of Geidar Aliev attacked the journalists and beat and kicked them, trying to take away their cameras.

With great difficulty, the journalists managed to escape from the encirclement of the attackers; some of the media people received bodily injuries, the "contact.az" reports.

In his turn, Orkhan Mansurzade, the Head of Public Relations of the country's Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA), has stated that during the above meeting with voters no serious offenses were recorded; and the information that the rally was interrupted is not true.

According to his version, neither the policemen who protected the law and order during the rally, nor the Sabirabad OVD (Interior Division) received any complaints in connection with the attack on journalists, the "day.az" reports.