Relatives of NIDA Activist Shahin Novruzlu Reject Charges against Him

The relatives of the third-year student of the University Odlar Yurdu, activist of NIDA Shahin Novruzlu, who was arrested on March 7 on the suspicion of possessing illegal drugs and explosives, have denied the charges.

The family members of Novruzlu reported that on March 7 bottles of so-called "Molotov cocktails" and drugs were brought by the searching employees themselves. There were 7 people in civilian clothes, who introduced themselves as DHS staff, and brought two witnesses with them.

In the conduct of the shooting the family protested against the delivery of these items into the apartment. A dispute rose between the student’s parents and the DHS staff and this is reflected in the video, said the Novruzlu family.

According to them, "Molotov cocktails" were placed at the door of the apartment. However, they admitted that the seized sum of 94 thousand manat belongs to the family. According to them, the money was collected from relatives for business organization.

As to the charge of illegal possession of drugs, according to the relatives, Novruzlu is less than 18 years old and he does not even smoke cigarettes.

On March 8 evening a joint message of National Security and the Prosecutor General was spread on the detention of three activists of NIDA, Bakhtiyar Guliyev, Shahin Novruzlu and Mohammad Azimov. They are charged with illegal possession of narcotics and explosives.

Note that planting drugs to political activists is a common practice in Azerbaijan.

However, this time the security forces apparently decided to act "creatively" and used "know-how" by bringing "Molotov cocktails" with them. - 03B06-