Nine Rustamov's supporters fined in Baku

At an action in Baku, where the participants demanded to release Salekh Rustamov, a hunger-striking activist, from custody, 43 people were detained; nine of them were fined for violating the quarantine regime.

On November 6, Salekh Rustamov, a supporter of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA), went on a hunger strike in protest against the fact that he had not been covered by the announced amnesty. On December 14, his health condition deteriorated sharply, but doctors persuaded him to agree to supportive medical treatment.

According to Rufat Safarov, the executive director of the NGO "Defence Line", during the protest action on December 15, a total of 43 people were detained, including 31 PFPA members, six activists of the "Musavat" Party, an activist of the Azerbaijani Party for Democracy and Welfare, and five other non-party activists and citizens.

The above NGO believes that policemen used excessive force to disperse the peaceful action.

The press service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) has stated that the action was suppressed because it was not coordinated with the authorities, and was also held in violation of the requirements of the quarantine regime.

Earlier, on December 1, the police disrupted an action that demanded to release Salekh Rustamov. 40 people were detained. The PFPA has stated that some of them were beaten up by law enforcers. Five people were arrested for the terms ranging from 15 to 30 days.