19:55, 13 May 2014

Head of "Promoting Democracy" detained in Azerbaijan

Emil Mamedov, the head of the NGO "Promoting Democracy", has been detained today in Azerbaijan on suspicion of extortion. His detention occurred after Tofig Gasymov, an employee of the NGO, has testified against his boss.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on April 4 Tofig Gasymov, an activist of the NGO "Promoting Democracy", was found guilty of disorderly conduct and sentenced to 10 days of arrest. His arrest expired on April 14, but he was not released. On April 15, a criminal case under the article of extortion was opened against Gasymov. His lawyer Alaif Gasanov suggested that the activist had been put under pressure.

On April 17, a confrontation was held of Tofig Gasymov with Emil Mamedov; the former said that under the latter's instructions he collected money from the heads of district institutions, blackmailing them with publishing defamatory material on the Internet.

Today, Emil Mamedov called the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent and said that the police arrested him as a suspect of extortion.

The officers of the on duty unit of the Salyan Police refused to comment the detention of Mamedov.

Author: Faik Medzhid

Source: CK correspondent