How are things in Seudlu now ?

According to residents who spoke to Radio Azadlig, the current situation in the village of Seudlu remains tense. The police post that was set up at the village entrance following the protests on June 20 and 21 in the Willow Village of Gadabay region has not been removed yet. The protests were in response to the environmental problems caused by gold mining in the area, which led to the creation of a harmful water body. During the protests, the police intervened, using tear gas and making arrests. Five of the detainees were sentenced to administrative imprisonment, and one elderly resident reported being fined. There were claims of additional arrests in the following days, although these have not been officially confirmed.

Residents have reported that the police forces are still present in the village, and entry and exit are restricted for those who are not residents. They can only leave the village after their documents have been checked. The Ministry of Internal Affairs could not be reached for comment on this matter.

Fazil Mustafa, a member of the Milli Majlis Human Rights Committee, told Turan that the police post is temporary and can be removed within 7-10 days. He emphasized that the police presence is not unusual since it was deployed by the state in response to the incident. Mustafa suggested that there might be operational issues that warrant the continued presence of the police.

Afiyaddin Mammadov, the coordinator of the Working Group in Willudlu, mentioned that the situation in the village remains tense, with limited communication with the local population. There seems to be reluctance among residents to share information, possibly due to fear of punishment if they contact authorities in Baku. Appeals have been prepared and sent for those who were arrested under administrative orders.

Rufat Safarov, co-founder of the Human Rights Defense Organization "Defense Line," criticized the authorities for their response to the situation, describing it as a violation of constitutional and conventional rights. The village is blocked, restricting freedom of movement, and administrative arrests have been made. Safarov noted that the introduction of additional government forces adds to the already difficult situation.

Representatives from "Anglo-Asian Mining" and "R.V. Investment Group Services" companies were not available for comment. However, employees of the mining enterprise claim that the waste does not harm the rural population.