Azerbaijani opposition arrested after criticizing police

Alizamin Salaev, an activist of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA), was arrested after disseminating on social networks a video criticizing the policeman. Other two PFPA's activists were fined. In 2019, 98 members were subjected to administrative arrests, the PFPA reports.

In the afternoon on January 13, PFPA activists Nidjat Abdullazade, Djeikhun Novruzov, and Alizamin Salaev were detained in the centre of Baku and taken to a police station.

"We went to have a snack in one of the cafes in the Sabail District of Baku. We just ordered food, when suddenly a group of people in civilian clothes approached us. They introduced themselves as agents of the Baku Chief Police Department. They took us away with them to examine our blood for alcohol content. We were brought to the 8th Division of the Sabail District Police Department. There, they drew a protocol against us stating that we allegedly used bad language in front of the cafe. I and Djeikhun were fined 50 manats (30 US dollars) each for 'petty hooliganism.' Alizamin was taken to court," Nidjat Abdullazade told the "Caucasian Knot".

Later, it was reported that Alizamin Salaev was sentenced to 30 days of administrative arrest under the article on failure to obey to lawful requirements of a policeman.

Gezyal Bayramli, the deputy chair of the PFPA, suggests that the activists were punished on far-fetched charges. "We believe that Alizamin is being persecuted for disseminating on social networks a video in which he criticized a policeman in the Salyan District. It seems that the authorities opened a new hunting season for PFPA activists in 2020," Gezyal Bayramli told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

In 2019, 98 PFPA members were subjected to administrative arrests, and other six members of the party were imprisoned on criminal charges, the PFPA reported.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on January 14, 2019 at 00:33 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.