Police detain supporters of Salekh Rustamov

In Baku, the police disrupted a protest action. The protestors demanded to release activist Salekh Rustamov, who has been on hunger strike for the 40th day. More than 20 people are detained.

On November 6, Salekh Rustamov, an activist of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA), went on a hunger strike in protest against the fact that he was not affected by the amnesty. On December 13, on the 38th day of his hunger strike, Salekh Rustamov refused water. As a sign of solidarity with Salekh Rustamov, his relatives and several activists refused to accept food. On December 14, the activist’s health state deteriorated sharply.

Ganimat Zakhid, the chief of the opposition “Turan” TV Channel, who lives in France, proposed to hold in Baku a protest action with the demand to release Salekh Rustamov.

The number of the protestors, detained by the police, includes Yegyana Rustamova, a sister of Salekh Rustamov, Tofig Yagublu, a member of the coordination centre of the National Council of Democratic Forces (NCDF), activist Nigyar Khazi, a daughter of Tofig Yagublu, Avaz Guseinov, a member of the PFPA, and Matanat Ismail, an activist of the “Musavat” Party.

The release of Salekh Rustamov depends on the decision of the President of Azerbaijan, says Rufat Safarov, the executive director of the “Line of Defence” NGO. According to the human rights defender, “the issue can be resolved very quickly, if there is a political will of the President.”

The “Caucasian Knot” has also reported that on December 1, the police disrupted a rally demanding the release of the oppositionist. Forty people were detained. The Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan complained that some of the detainees were beaten by law enforcers. Five persons were arrested for terms ranging from 15 to 30 days. Eleven activists were detained at the protest action held on December 11.