- Title: At least 20 detained at rally for freedom of rallies in Azerbaijan
- Date: 8th October 2019
- Summary: BAKU, AZERBAIJAN (OCTOBER 8, 2019) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS HOLDING POSTERS, CHANTING (Azeri): 'FREEDOM!" BAKU CITY ADMINISTRATION BUILDING VARIOUS OF POLICE AND PROTESTERS IN STREET RIOT POLICE LINE POLICE AND PROTESTERS IN STREET RIOT POLICE WALKING PAST PROTESTERS POLICE WALKING NEAR DRIVING CARS PEOPLE SHOWING DIRECTION WITH THEIR HANDS WOMAN ENTERING ADMINISTRATION GUARDS IN FRONT OF ADMINISTRATION PROTESTER HOLDING POSTER WITH SIGN READING (Azeri): 'RETURN THE RIGHT TO PROTEST!' PROTESTER HOLDING POSTER WITH SIGN READING (Azeri): 'RESPECT THE LAW!' POLICE APPROACHING PROTESTERS PROTESTER BEING ESCORTED TO POLICE VAN PROTESTER BEING PLACED INTO VAN VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS BEING ESCORTED BY POLICE PROTESTER BEING ESCORTED AWAY, WOMAN RUNS AFTER THEM PROTESTERS MARCHING PAST RIOT POLICE HANDS OF POLICE OFFICER VARIOUS OF POLICE DETAINING PROTESTERS AND LEADING THEM INTO POLICE VAN
- Embargoed: 22nd October 2019 17:18
- Keywords: Azerbaijan opposition rally freedom of gatherings protest Baku administration
- Location: BAKU, AZERBAIJAN
- City: BAKU, AZERBAIJAN
- Country: Azerbaijan
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,Civil Unrest
- Reuters ID: LVA001B08N395
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: At least 20 people were detained at the opposition protest in front of the city administration in Azeri capital of Baku on Tuesday (October 8).
The protesters with posters reading "Return the right to protest!" and "Respect the law!" came to the city centre to demand freedom of gatherings. The rally was previously authorised by the city government, Radio Free Europe reported. However, the police has limited the access to the site to 50 activists, citing Azeri legislation, and barred all the rest from coming, triggering tensions and detentions, Kavkaz Uzel news portal said.
Representatives of several opposition movements and parties condemned police actions. According to Azeri media some of the activists were later released.
Azerbaijan, a majority Muslim country in the Caucasus of about 10 million, has grown wealthy from oil and natural gas since it declared independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. Protests are rare and are put down quickly.
(Production: Anton Derbenev) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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