Azerbaijani photographer arrested
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 13 June 2012 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Azerbaijani photographer arrested, 13 June 2012, available at: http://www.refworld.org/docid/4fdb2f6b1e.html [accessed 24 May 2013] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
By RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service
June 13, 2012
BAKU – Police in Azerbaijan have detained a pro-democracy photographer and blogger on charges of "hooliganism."
Mehman Huseynov, who was arrested on June 12, works for the Institute for Reporters' Freedom and Safety campaign group and the independent Azeri Turan news agency.
His colleague, Elchin Sadiqov, told RFE/RL that Huseynov was charged with "hooliganism" for allegedly insulting and injuring police during an unauthorized opposition rally on the eve of last month's Eurovision Song Contest in Baku.
Azerbaijani opposition groups staged a series of unauthorized rallies during Eurovision in a bid to use the internationally watched event to highlight human-rights violations.
Human rights groups regularly rate the energy-rich Azerbaijani government's record as poor, citing incidents of police torture, people imprisoned for opposition to the government, and restrictions on free speech and assembly.
With reporting by AFP
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
