In Azerbaijan, human rights defender Vidadi Iskenderov arrested for 15 days

On November 30, the Goychay District Court of Azerbaijan sentenced Vidadi Iskenderov, the leader of the NGO "Enhancing Protection of Democracy", to 15 days of administrative arrest on charges of disobeying police.

On November 30, Vidadi Iskenderov was detained in the central park of the city of Goychay on charges of violation of public order. According to the Goychay district police station, Vidadi Iskenderov, "being in a state of alcoholic intoxication, voiced insults to the state and some officials and violated public order."

However, according to Oktai Iskenderov, a brother of the arrested man, the human rights defender "was sentenced on fabricated charges."

"Being a native of Goychay, Vidadi always actively defends the rights of the Goychay residents, and he is popular among the local population. As soon as he arrived in Goychay on Saturday, about 150 persons gathered in the park to meet him. People came to tell him about their problems. The fact that a lot of people gathered in the park confused policemen, and they urgently inform about the gathering the chief executive of the Goychay District and the chief of the district police station," Vidadi Iskenderov told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

The defence of Vidadi Iskenderov will engage an independent advocate and will file an appeal against the arrest.