Police of Ismailli region drives out defenders and journalists who arrived from Baku

At around 15:00 pm, on Tuesday,  the police in Ismailli detained a group of human rights activists and journalists, about 20 people, who arrived from Baku, according to Turan correspondent.

 They were stopped when entering the city, on the checkpoint,  the documents of all the  men  in several cars  were checked, and  they were asked about  the purpose of  visit.

As soon as the delegation arrived, all were detained  and taken to the police station. Several people, including Rasul Jafarov  and Bashir Suleymanli,  and others were taken to the  Head of Police Station for questioning. The rest are waiting in the street.

The defenders  arrived in Ismailli to chat with relatives of the arrested during and after the riots on January 23-24, and learn about their complaints, charges,  learn if they have lawyers. 

According to Rasul Jafarov,  the talk with Nizami Hajiyev, the head of  police,  and  the prosecutor of the region lasted  for an hour. "They told us firmly  that they do not believe our visit a good will,  and as if we arrived to aggravate the situation; they  ordered us to leave. We said that we want to know how the investigation is going on, and  to  check the complaints.

We were told that the allegations of torture and complaints are not true. Only 12 people have been  arrested, and  they are all were  sent to Baku; they are charged with  organization of riots and destruction of property," said Jafarov.

At about 18:00 pm , journalists and human rights activists were forced to leave  the Ismailli region. -22В-