Activist Fizuli Guseinov fined after picket in Baku

The court has found Fuzuli Guseinov, a member of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA), guilty of disobeying policemen during a solo picket with the demand to release political prisoners. The opposition activist himself claimed that he had not violated the laws.

In the afternoon on June 19, Fizuli Guseinov, an activist of the PFPA, came to a solo picket in the centre of Baku at the monument to writer Jabbarly. The activist unfolded a poster with the slogan reading: "Freedom to Political Prisoners!" Fizuli Guseinov was immediately detained. This has been told today to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent by his advocate Bakhruz Bairamov.

"Fizuli Guseinov was taken to the 22^nd department of the Nasimi District Police Department. He was kept in custody for more than 24 hours. A protocol of administrative violation was drawn up against him. Today, at 2:00 p.m., he has been brought to the court and fined by 200 manats (120 US dollars)," the advocate said.

He treats the court's decision as ungrounded. "The police claim that Fizuli Guseinov allegedly had a loud quarrel with someone on the mobile phone and when the policemen made a comment to him, he ignored them," said Bakhruz Bairamov.

Fizuli Guseinov himself told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that he did not violate the public order. "I was carrying out a silent picket 'Freedom to All Political Prisoners!' I used that way to draw public attention to the problem of political prisoners, the number of which exceeded 160".

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.