Action in support of Salekh Rustamov results in detention of a Baku activist

On November 22, Tofig Mamedov, a member of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan, was detained in Baku when he hung up posters reading: “Freedom for political prisoners!” and “Police, resign!” Tofig Mamedov did the above to express support for activist Salekh Rustamov.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that on February 27, in Azerbaijan, Salekh Rustamov, a citizen of Russia, an activist of the Popular Front Party (PFPA), was sentenced to seven years and three months of imprisonment. Later, the Supreme Court (SC) reduced the sentence by two months. On November 6, Salekh Rustamov went on a hunger strike.

Tofig Mamedov said that earlier, he was banned from doing street sale after he criticized the authorities on social media for not releasing activist Salekh Rustamov.

“Four days ago, the police demanded from me to stop criticizing the authorities on social media in connection with the hunger strike of political prisoner Salekh Rustamov. When I said I would continue criticising because I have the freedom to express my opinion, I was forbidden to engage in trade on the pretext that it was illegal. However, for some reason they did not touch other sellers. Yesterday (on November 22), at the place where I was engaged in the sale, I pasted a poster reading: ‘Freedom for political prisoners!’ and ‘Police, resign!’ The police immediately destroyed the inscriptions. And after that I was detained and taken to the 29th department of the Yasamal District Police Department,” Tofig Mamedov told the “Caucasian Knot” correspondent.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on November 23, 2021 at 12:32 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.