Azerbaijani MIA accuses blogger Mekhman Guseinov of defaming police

The Azerbaijani Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) has asked the General Prosecutor's Office to give a legal assessment to statements of blogger Mekhman Guseinov published by the media. According to the Azerbaijani MIA, Mekhman Guseinov defamed the police in his public statements. The blogger denies the accusation.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on January 9, the police detained Mekhman Guseinov, the chairman of the Institute for Reporters' Freedom and Safety (IRFS). On January 10, the Nasimi District Court of Baku fined Mekhman Guseinov for disobeying the police. Mekhman Guseinov complained about torture at a police station.

The blogger has told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that the photos depicting signs of torture on his body had already been submitted to the Prosecutor's Office.

Advocate Agil Laidjev has called the accusations of defamation unfounded.

According to the advocate, the very fact of the lack of formal information about the fate of Mekhman Guseinov during 19 hours and the police's failure to inform his parents about his detention allow to qualify the incident as a kidnapping.

Earlier, staff members of the Institute for Reporters' Freedom and Safety (IRFS) have called the detention of Mekhman Guseinov a kidnapping.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.