Two oppositionists arrested in Baku

Elkhan Aliev and Alizamin Salaev, activists of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA), detained on the eve of the action in Baku, have been sentenced to 15 days of arrest on charges of disobedience to the police. The party treats their arrest as politically motivated.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on October 8, activists in Baku demanded to ensure the freedom of assembly at the action organized by the National Council of Democratic Forces (NCDF). However, Baku law enforcers let only 50 people to the place of the picket; and about 20 activists who tried to break through the police cordon were detained, oppositionists have reported.

Today, the Narimanov District Court of Baku sentenced Elkhan Aliev and Alizamin Salaev, PFPA activists, to 15 days of administrative arrest each, finding them guilty of disobeying the policemen's lawful demands, Ilham Gusein, a member of the Presidium of the PFPA's Higher Mejlis, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

According to his story, the activists were detained a day before an opposition's picket in central Baku.

He treats the accusations put forward against activists as far-fetched. "They were detained at a teahouse. I think they had been shadowed. We have expected that on the eve of the protest action there could be arrests of our activists who had earlier actively participated in protests. Apparently, law enforcers' eyes fell on Elkhan Aliev and Alizamin Salaev, and they decided to detain the activists. In the past, they took part in our protests. Alizamin is arrested for the third or fourth time this year," Mr Gusein has added.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on October 9, 2019 at 04:47 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.