Opposition treats disruption of picket in Baku as a violation of freedom of assembly

Law enforcers had no reasons to disrupt an unsanctioned picket organized by activists of the "Musavat" Party in front of the Iranian Embassy, since no permission of the Baku authorities is required to hold protest actions, state members of the "Musavat" Party.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on July 17, in Baku, law enforcers disrupted a picket organized by the activists of the "Musavat" Party in front of the Iranian Embassy. More than 10 people were detained. Later, the participants of the protest action were set free, except for Elman Guliev, the leader of the "Musavat" youth organization.

The oppositionists tried to hold the picket in protest against the establishment of joint production of weapons by Tehran and Yerevan. The activists demanded from the Iranian authorities to refuse military cooperation with Armenia.

The activists were released from the Sabail district police department an hour after their detention, and the law enforcers voiced an "oral warning" for them, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was informed by Mustafa Gadjibeili, the chief of the press service for the "Musavat" Party.

Elman Guliev was also released about 1.5 hours after his detention, reported Mustafa Gadjibeili.

The chief of the press service for the "Musavat" Party described the law enforcers' actions as "a violation of the freedom of assembly." "The organizers in advance appealed to the executive power of Baku with a notification about holding a picket. But they were refused: the authorities recommended them not holding an action, but sending their demands to the embassy in the form of a letter. However, according to the Constitution, freedom of assembly is guaranteed in Azerbaijan, and holding demonstrations requires a notification, but not permission," explained the oppositionist.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on July 18, 2019 at 10:24 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.