In Baku, police suppress women's protest in defence of political prisoners

Today, about 10 women have come to the US Embassy. They demanded to release political prisoners. In their hands, the activists were holding posters with the slogan "Freedom for political prisoners!" written in Azerbaijani and English, as well as posters with photos of sentenced activists and journalists, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reported.

Spouses of two sentenced journalists – Polad Aslanov and Afghan Sadygov – also attended the protest action. Together with them, female activists from the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA) took part in the protest.

Ten minutes after the start of the protest action, police squads approached the US Embassy. Law enforcers tried to seize the posters from the women, but the activists quickly folded them up and began chanting the slogan "Freedom for political prisoners!" The police began to push the women away from the US Embassy building. Sevindj Sadygova and PFPA activist Matanat Makhmarzaeva were detained, but released in 15 minutes.

The US Embassy refused to comment on the protest action. The spokesperson for the US diplomatic mission has only noted that they "respect the right to peaceful assembly of citizens," the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on February 19, 2021 at 06:46 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.