Azerbaijani oppositionist arrested after picket

On October 11, Tofig Mamedov, an activist of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA), who held a solo picket in Baku, was placed behind bars for 10 days. It is his fourth detention since the start of the year.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on April 12, Tofig Mamedov was detained near the "Inshaatchylar" metro station in Baku; and the court sentenced him to 20 days of administrative arrest. Earlier, Mamedov was arrested on charges of disobedience to the police for 20 days on February 19, and for 15 days before the rally scheduled for February 23.

The activist was arrested on October 11 near the "Inshaatchylar" metro station in the Yasamal District of Baku, where he is engaged in petty street trading. "There, street traders earn their bread. Law enforcers, while turning a blind eye to others, periodically find fault with Mamedov and forbid him to stand there. On October 11, they again rudely demanded from him to stop trading and leave," the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was told by Ilham Gusein, a member of the Presidium of the Supreme Majlis of the PFPA.

Mamedov left, and then returned, holding a poster reading: "I sell my clothes for 1 manat," the party activist said. In his opinion, Mamedov wanted to "draw attention to his problem, because, being left without livelihood, he is ready to sell his clothes for 1 manat (USD 0.6)."

A few minutes after Mamedov unfolded his poster, policemen detained him. In the evening on October 11, the Yasamal District Court of Baku sentenced him to 10 days of arrest, having found him guilty under the article "Petty hooliganism," Mr Gusein said.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on October 12, 2019 at 00:27 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.