Solo picketer sentenced to 10 days in jail in Baku

Vugar Aslanov, a member of the Youth Committee of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA), who was detained on July 21 during his silent solo picket in Baku, was sentenced to 10 days of administrative arrest on charges of disobeying the police.

"Vugar went to the action on his own initiative and decided to protest alone. That's why he was detained. But 10 days in jail is a very severe punishment for a silent protest," Abulfaz Gurbanly, the head of the youth committee of the party, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

According to Gurbanly, when Aslanov was brought to the Sabail District Court, he could communicate by mobile phone that two policemen, who claimed that he had allegedly not obeyed them, gave false testimonies against him.

"But this is not true. After all, there are numerous videos showing Vugar silently standing, covering his mouth with his hand; and then he was detained and taken away from the square," said Gurbanly.

The court decision to arrest the activist will be appealed against, as the PFPA regards it as a "violation of the freedom of assembly and expression," and because the trial was held in the absence of the Aslanov's trusted lawyer.