Azerbaijani rights defender suspected of extortion

On December 27, in Baku, Talekh Khasmamedov, a rights defender and a member of the Centre for the Protection of Political Prisoners (CPPP), was detained on suspicion of extortion, the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) has reported. His wife and colleagues-activists are sure that Talekh is being persecuted on trumped-up charges.

The "Caucasian Knot" wrote that Khasmamedov was detained on April 19 on charges of hooliganism. On April 21, he was released. According to the MIA, he had beaten up three policemen, demanding the return his arrested car. Ogtai Gyulyalyev, a Khasmamedov's colleague, has linked Talekh's detention with his human rights activities.

"Talekh Khasmamedov, a resident of the Goychay District, was detained in a cafe in the Nasimi District, region while receiving 1000 manats (about 590 US dollars) from a Baku resident," the Azerbaijani MIA reports.

According to the MIA, the money was transferred in change for a promise not to publish some compromising information.

"Talekh is defending people's rights; he would never do that. My husband is persecuted for criticizing people in power," Fatima Movsum, Talekh's wife, has stated.

Ogtai Gyulyalyev, the coordinator of the CPPP, believes that Khasmamedov's rights are grossly violated.

"Immediately after detention, he should have been given a chance to contact his family and to invite an advocate of his choice. The detention was reported only two days later ... He had previously been twice convicted to prison terms on fabricated charges," Mr Gyulyalyev has added.

Let us remind you that on July 22, 2015, Khasmamedov was sentenced to three years in prison on charges of beating. In December 2015, he was put on the list of Azerbaijani political prisoners.