Azerbaijani activist tells about conversation with policemen after his post in support of Mamedov

Giyas Ibragimov, an activist of the "Nida" movement, was summoned to the Baku police after placing a post on the Facebook in support of the arrested activist Bairam Mamedov. Law enforcers talked to him and let him go, advising him to avoid such publications, the activist said. The call to the police can be regarded as pressure on Ibragimov, said Emin Guseinov, Director of the Institute for Reporters' Freedom and Safety (IRFS).

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on April 2, a court in Baku dismissed the complaint against Mamedov's arrest.

"At the police, they reproached me for insulting the president, which is unacceptable," said Ibragimov. According to his story, he wrote in his post that Bairam's arrest testifies to the naivety of expectations of reforms in Azerbaijan.

"I was strongly advised not to insult the President of Azerbaijan in order to avoid troubles," Mr Ibragimov has added.

He did not rule out that attacks could be committed on him; and this would later be presented as the action of "President's fans."

"In fact, they let the young man to know that if he continues criticizing the president, he could be physically dealt with. Given the fact that Azerbaijan has already seen cases of physical violence and murders of journalists, namely, of Elmar Guseinov, Rafig Tagi, and others; threats can be very serious," Emin Guseinov, the IRFS Director, has noted.