AZERBAIJAN: Opposition People's Front Party leader Ali Kerimli goes to police station as Eurovision Song Contest fans await grand finale in Azerbaijan's capital Baku

Record ID: 218199

  • Title: AZERBAIJAN: Opposition People's Front Party leader Ali Kerimli goes to police station as Eurovision Song Contest fans await grand finale in Azerbaijan's capital Baku
  • Date: 27th May 2012
  • Summary: BAKU, AZERBAIJAN (MAY 26, 2012) (REUTERS) POLICE BUILDING POLICEMAN NEAR ENTRANCE VARIOUS OF LEADER OF OPPOSITION PEOPLE'S POPULAR FRONT PARTY, ALI KERIMLI GETTING OUT OF HIS CAR AND WALKING INTO POLICE BUILDING AS SUPPORTERS CHEERING POLICEMEN GUARDING ENTRANCE VARIOUS VIEW THROUGH WINDOW OF ALI KERIMLI BEING REGISTERED, POLICEMAN HOLDING KERIMLI'S ID VARIOUS OF ALI
  • Embargoed: 11th June 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Azerbaijan
  • Country: Azerbaijan
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement,Entertainment,Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA7AFSGEDHOEXCV0F2FFKIXCQYY
  • Story Text: The leader of the Azeri Opposition People's Front Party Ali Kerimli visited a police station in the capital of Azerbaijan, Baku, on Saturday (May 26) the day of the Eurovision Song Contest final.
    Kerimli received a letter summoning him to the police while at his home, and had said this was a tactic to scare him and his colleagues.
    On Friday (May 25), the opposition held protests in the capital, against the human rights situation in Azerbaijan with numerous arrests made. Last week, human rights groups urged the country's authorities to release jailed opposition activists and guarantee freedom of expression for protesters taking part in peaceful demonstrations before the contest.
    Amnesty International said on Wednesday (May 23) that with the 57th annual Eurovision song contest underway in Baku, the event should be enjoyed but should also offer the chance to draw attention to what it sees as the country's poor human rights record.
    Azeri President Ilham Aliyev, who succeeded his father to the presidency of the Caspian Sea country north of Iran has been criticised for clamping down on dissent, but Baku says the country enjoys full freedom of speech and a vibrant opposition press.
    Azerbaijan won the right to host the Eurovision song contest by winning last year's event in Germany and sees the annual event watched by millions of television viewers as a chance to showcase the country.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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