Mehman Huseynov is interrogated for Six Hours (UPDATED)

Reporter Mehman Huseynov was released after six hours of interrogation at Prosecutor General's Office, where three persons took him from his office at 10 am.

  "After the arrest I was told that they were taken to the Police Department of Baku, but then taken to the Prosecutor's Office. I asked about the video clip “300 Spartans.” They said, “why did you do that, there is a call for a change of power, it is illegal. They asked that I am too active in social networks," said Mehman Huseynov after leaving the Prosecutor's Office.

According to the reporter, it was hinted to him that he should stop such activities.

"I think it is a pressure on me, because I am a blogger, and I am engaged in political activity.

President Ilham Aliyev said that Azerbaijan has freedom of speech and that the internet is free. So, I use my right guaranteed by the president," said reporter.–03В-

2013 October 02 (Wednesday) 15:23:14

Reporter for IRFS, Mehman Huseynov, called the Prosecutor General to give evidence relating to the investigation into criminal nature of the information.  The press service of the Prosecutor General's Office replied to Turan agency’s request for the reason for the detention of a  reporter. – 0 --

*   *   *

Lawyer Elchin Sadigov, despite a warrant, is not allowed into the General Prosecutor's Office, where a photojournalist Mehman Huseynov is being interrogated.

According to the lawyer, M.Huseynov, was detained because of the satirical movie "300 Spartan", which is dedicated to the presidential election. The essence of the movie is that the characters of the famous film speak phrases from the presidential candidates who spoke them during the televised debate.-06/16D-

2013 October 02 (Wednesday) 13:37:14

Baku/02.10.13/Turan : The press photographer for the Institute of Reporters Freedom and Safety ( IRFS ), Mehman Huseynov, was arrested in the morning at the office of the organization and taken away by someone unknown in a white Toyota Prado.

"He was invited to speak to an unknown man. Mehman came out to speak and in the yard, a second man approached them. They put him in the car and drove away. Colleagues were only able to seemake out the number 060 of the car registration," an IRFS employee told Turan.

According to Turan's lawyer Elchin Sadigov, Mehman was taken to the General Prosecutor's Office. For what purpose it was unclear, the lawyer said.

In September, Mehman was invited to the Sabail department of the Ministry of National Security, said the IRFS .

In June 2012, he faced a criminal case on charges of disorderly conduct, with a sentence of up to five years in prison. The prosecution has not yet been lifted.

In May, Huseynov was brought in as a witness in the case of the NIDA activists, where he also answered questions regarding the objectives of the Harlem Shake video.

"I am waiting for my arrest, the more than I once I have received official warnings," Huseynov told Turan.

In January of this year, as a prisoner, Huseynov was included on a list of political prisoners at a meeting of the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights of PACE.  This meeting discussed and adopted amendments to the report by Strasser on political prisoners in Azerbaijan.

In June this year, Huseynov and another employee of IRFS, Rasim Aliyev, underwent physical pressure from the police in the performance of their duties. Subsequently, the police have been punished .

This year Mehman Huseynov was awarded the prestigious Gerd Bucerius "Free Press of Eastern Europe" award for the year 2012, for his coverage of such serious problems as corruption and human rights violations in Azerbaijan. However, the authorities did not allow him to leave country to attend the award ceremony . -0 -