Activist Jalil Zabidov linked his detention to posts on social networks

Baku/17.11.23/Turan: Activist Jalil Zabidov and his relatives, detained on the morning of November 17 in the Yardimli region of Azerbaijan, were released in the evening.

As Zabidov told Turan, on the morning of November 17 he was detained along with his son, brother and nephew.

“I sometimes go to the center, where I sell herbs and vegetables from my car along the road. Other people also trade there. This morning, when I drove up there with my brother, we were detained. Moreover, my son and nephew, who were minors, were detained. They came with us to the center to attend preparatory training courses,” Zabidov said.

According to him, “formally” the reason for the detention was explained as his “illegal street trade.”

“Since when did people start being detained for petty trading? Detention of minor children is completely illegal,” Zabidov said.

He refused to sign the report and, leaving the police, went to complain about the actions of the police to the district prosecutor's office.

Zabidov believes that the real reason for his detention was his activities on social networks.

He noted that on the eve of his arrest he shared a photo of a war veteran who committed suicide in the Masalli district. In addition, he distributed a video that criticized government spending on the construction of flag plazas. At the same time, the need to direct these funds to youth education was noted.

Earlier, a representative of the regional press service group of the Ministry of Internal Affairs reported that Zabidov was called to the police because of “illegal street trading.”

*Note that Zabidov was previously subjected to detention, administrative and criminal prosecution. In 2020, he criticized violations and falsifications during the elections in social networks and was arrested for 5 months.

In 2021, he was arrested for 25 days for protesting against corruption and social injustice by local officials.

In May 2023, he was called to the police, where he had also been subjected to pressures.--06D-