Activists count 46 detainees after Baku action

On July 15, during and after the rally in support of the Azerbaijani Army in Baku, a total of 46 activists were detained. Criminal charges have been brought against 26 of them, says the report of the new human rights structure "Defence Line" that was set up in Azerbaijan on July 22. The organization does not exclude that the number of those arrested may be even higher.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that at night on July 15, a non-sanctioned march took place in Baku in support of the Azerbaijani Army, which ended in activists' clashes with the police. Several activists were detained after the action.

The above new human rights structure "Defence Line" has been found in Azerbaijan. It aims to monitor and document human rights violations, provide legal assistance in courts and psychological help to victims, and raise donations.

The structure's first research was a report on those detained and arrested in connection with the July 15 rally in Baku. The report was released on July 23; it says that 26 people were arrested under criminal cases after the rally.

All of them are charged under articles on destruction or damage of someone's property, organization or participation in the actions that entailed violations of public order, and resistance to the police. The activists were arrested for three months.

"Three more protesters have been formally arrested under Article 139-1.1 (a violation of the quarantine regime that entailed a spread of the disease). Two of them are PFPA (Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan) members; and one is a son of Mamed Ibragim, a PFPA member," Rufat Safarov, the executive director of the "Defence Line", has explained.

Besides, nine PFPA members have been administratively arrested for up to 30 days. Seven others were released after detentions. The status of the other four detainees remains unclear, Mr Safarov has explained.

The "Defence Line" does not exclude that the number of those arrested may be even higher.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on July 24, 2020 at 11:02 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.