AZERBAIJAN/FILE: Azerbaijani pro-democracy photographer and blogger Mehman Huseynov, charged with "police assault", says his arrest and charges are politically motivated

Record ID: 218255

  • Title: AZERBAIJAN/FILE: Azerbaijani pro-democracy photographer and blogger Mehman Huseynov, charged with "police assault", says his arrest and charges are politically motivated
  • Date: 19th June 2012
  • Summary: BAKU, AZERBAIJAN (FILE - MAY 2012) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PROTEST ORGANISED WITHIN FRAMEWORKS OF PRO-DEMOCRACY MOVEMENT WHICH HUSEYNOV COVERED FOR PROTESTERS CHANTING "FREEDOM" AS POLICE INTERVENES
  • Embargoed: 4th July 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Azerbaijan
  • Country: Azerbaijan
  • Topics: Crime,Politics,People
  • Reuters ID: LVA8QK6IO3MK169IVXPS04EHD9NX
  • Story Text: An Azerbaijani human rights activist and pro-democracy blogger, who is due to face trial this summer for "assaulting" police at an unauthorized opposition rally held within the frameworks of "Sing for Democracy" campaign during the Eurovision Song Contest in Baku last month, says his arrest and charges are politically motivated.
    Mehman Huseynov, who works for the Institute for Reporters' Freedom and Safety campaign group and the independent Azerbaijani Turan was the media coordinator for the "Sing for Democracy" campaign group during the 2012 Eurovision Song contest in Baku last May.
    The "Sing for Democracy" campaign group encouraged Sweden's Eurovision entry and eventually the contest winner Loreen to meet Azerbaijani human rights and opposition activist and "speak out about Azerbaijan's human rights problems," Amnesty International reported after Mehman Huseynov was arrested in Baku.
    "I regard this case politically motivated as, I am hundred percent sure there was an order to arrest me as before the Eurovision (Song Contest) during the "Sing for Democracy" campaign I actively participated in several events," Mehman Huseynov told Reuters after showing footage filmed by his camera in his office.
    Opposition and human rights activists staged a number of rallies, flash mobs and protests in the Azeri capital just days before it hosts the Eurovision Song Contest final aiming to attract attention of the world to problems of the country. Police permanently dispersed protests and detained the activists.
    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.
    Amnesty International said in May that the 57th annual Eurovision song contest in Baku should be enjoyed but should also offer the chance to draw attention to what it sees as the country's poor human rights record.
    "When I was in a (prison) cell people in civilian outfit used to visit me and hinted, in fact they told me "yes, we know you did not hit the policeman we know you did not swear (use bad language), but you know yourself and understand very well why we arrested you." So I understood it was connected with Eurovision (protests)" Huseynov, who is expecting his trial and has no right to leave the capital, said.
    Human rights groups including Amnesty International urged the country's authorities to immediately release jailed activists and blooger and guarantee freedom of expression for all protesters taking part in peaceful demonstrations.
    "I did not expect they (authorities) would release me after the court hearing, but as there was pressure from international organisations, international human rights activists, local human rights activists, and international media I would say they (the authorities) were scared to keep me, but I am still on their hook," Huseynov said.
    Huseynov, who was initially arrested for "hooliganism," could get up to five years in jail if convicted for "police assault" charges which prosecution demands for him now.
  • Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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