ECtHR starts communication on Ilkin Rustamzade's case

The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has given the government of Azerbaijan three months to respond to the questions in the case against Ilkin Rustamzade, an imprisoned young activist of the movement "Nida".

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on May 17, 2013, Ilkin Rustamzade was detained on suspicion of disorderly conduct, since investigators treated as an act of hooliganism the organization of dancing flash mob Harlem Shake and the placement of an appropriate video story on the YouTube. After his arrest, Ilkin Rustamzade announced his joining the movement "Nida".

"The very charge was absurd. Firstly, an organization of a flash mob cannot be a criminally punishable act, even if investigators have noted 'vulgar actions' in the actions of the dancers and 'abuse of a sculpture.' Secondly, Ilkin Rustamzade was not involved in those actions, and he only recorded them on video and posted on the Internet," said advocate Nemat Kerimli.

According to the advocate, other charges were later filed against Ilkin Rustamzade, including the charge of organization of mass disorder, and he was sentenced to 8 years of imprisonment.

Nemat Kerimli notes it is the second complaint filed by Ilkin Rustamzade to the ECtHR.

According to Elshan Gasanov, the head of the Centre for Monitoring Political Prisoners, Ilkin Rustamzade is being prosecuted for political reasons.

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