Azerbaijani police detain brother of opposition journalist Natiq Adilov

In Azerbaijan, Murad Adilov has been detained on suspicion of illegal possessing drugs. He is a brother of Natiq Adilov, a journalist of the newspaper "Azadlyg" (Freedom) and a presenter of the on-line programme "Azerbaijani Hour" broadcasted on the website of the above opposition newspaper. The journalist associates the criminal proceedings against his brother with his own professional activities and the oppositional activities of Murad Adilov himself.

On August 11, policemen came to the house of the Adilov brother's parents in Sabirabad and conducted a search there, Natiq Adilov told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

"During the search, they allegedly found a plastic bag under a pillow. They alleged the bag contained drugs and took my brother away with them. We are not aware where he is being kept at present," Natiq Adilov has said.

"I associate all this with my articles published in the newspaper 'Azadlyg' and a programme 'Azerbaijan Hour', in which I'm engaged as one of the presenters. We criticize corruption and human rights violations, and we are permanently subjected to pressure from the authorities. They wanted to imprison my brother yet in February; however, at that time, the authorities refused that at the last moment and limited the prosecution to an administrative arrest. Besides, Murad is an activist of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA)," Natiq Adilov has noted.

The press service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) refutes political motive of the arrest of Murad Adilov. According to the MIA's officials, the operation of search and detention has been conducted by staff members of the MIA's Anti-Drug Department.