11:48, 28 August 2020

Action in defence of homeless dogs in Baku turns into detention of zoo activists

An action of zoo activists in Baku. Photo: https://www.amerikaninsesi.org/a/heyvan-müdafiəçilərinin-aksiyasının-qarşısı-alınıb-/5560160.html

Law enforcers have detained two activists who staged a protest after shooting of stray dogs in Baku.

On August 27, six zoo activists came to abandoned construction sites in the Narimanov District of Baku. On August 25, six stray dogs were shot dead in this area, Nidjat Ismailov, the organizer of the action, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

"The volunteers took care of these dogs. They were vaccinated, sterilized so that they would not be killed under the pretext of rabies ... These animals were healthy. Besides, there are no residential buildings; and the dogs posed no threat to anyone," the activist said.

Law enforcers detained Ismailov and Ainur Babaeva, another zoo activist.

As Mr Ismailov has explained, the aim of the action was to draw public attention to the fate of homeless dogs.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in May, after a video of dog fights appeared in social networks, the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) of Azerbaijan detained four of organizers thereof. There are gaps in the country's legislation concerning the responsibility for cruelty to animals, lawyers and zoo activists assert.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on August 28, 2020 at 01:44 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

Author: Faik Medjid

Source: CK correspondent