Another oppositional journalist detained in Azerbaijan

Today, in the capital of Azerbaijan, the police have detained the well-known journalist Makhal Ismailoglu. According to certain data, his article in the newspaper was the cause of his arrest.

The journalist's relatives have informed that he was arrested on his neighbour's complaint. "His householder complained on the journalist that allegedly he had exerted physical pressure on her," the relatives said. However, in their opinion, the true reason of detention was Ismailoglu's article in the newspaper "Eni Musavat" about Vakhid Imanov.

The complaining householder is Imanov's employee. The latter got offended that Ismailoglu in his article mentioned an episode where Ramil Usubov, present Minister of Internal Affairs, treated Imanov as a useless person. The article was published on June 7 this year.

As to the householder, the journalist's relatives assert that any violence is out of question. "Imanov just wants to wreak vengeance upon the journalist for the criticism in the newspaper," they believe.

The police have confirmed to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that Ismailoglu was indeed summoned as a witness on the complaint of his neighbour. No other details were given.

Let us note here that Mr Ismailoglu had for many years headed the leading official newspapers named "Khalg". However, quite unexpectedly, in 2000 he was dismissed, and then started sharply criticizing the authorities in the pages of the oppositional press.