In Azerbaijan, Court arrests for three months rights defender Talekh Khasmamedov accused of disorderly conduct

The Goychay District Court of Azerbaijan has announced the pre-trial restriction measure in the form of arrest for three months against rights defender Talekh Khasmamedov accused of disorderly conduct.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on February 24, Talekh Khasmamedov, the leader of the NGO "Law and Order", was detained in the town of Goychay on suspicion of beating a local resident also detained by the police.

According to Oktai Gyulalyev, the head of the Public Alliance "Azerbaijan without political prisoners", prior to the court hearing, the courthouse was taken under enhanced police protection, since it was approached by about three dozen people, including relatives and local activists.

Gyulbuta Khasmamedova, the mother of the rights defender, who tried to enter the courthouse to see her son, was pushed off by a police officer. In protest against the abuse of the woman, her other son Valekh Khasmamedov cut his own hand. After the incident, the police pressed the people from the courthouse.

Oktai Gyulalyev has added that the local activists managed to identify the person who had arranged a provocation against Talekh Khasmamedov. "It was Zair Azizov, who worked closely with the police," Oktai Gyulalyev has said.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.