Rapper who posted clip criticising road police on YouTube arrested in Azerbaijan

The rapper Said Aliev, more broadly known as Dado, was arrested in Baku. His relatives believe that the young singer is persecuted for his video clip YPX, in which he criticises the practice of bribe-taking among road police.

Ali Aliev, the rapper's brother told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent, that back on February 24, the district police inspector came to them and asked for the number of Dado's mobile phone allegedly to invite him to perform at some wedding party.

"On February 27, Dado was summoned to the police, where he was told that some car that looked like his car had knocked down a person, and that an examination was needed. Dado went to the examination, which confirmed that it was not his involved in the accident. Then, my brother was put into a jeep and taken to some unknown place," said the singer's brother.

"On the following day I received a call from a hidden telephone number. It was Dado, who asked me to remove the video clip from the Internet, otherwise ten days later a criminal case would be opened against him. On February 28, the family was informed that Dado was sentenced for 10 days for disobeying the police," said Ali Aliev.

According to his story, the clip would not be removed from the YouTube. "Why on earth should we do it? We're a democratic state, where the freedom of creativity should exist."

The police deny any association of Dado's arrest with the video clip.