Azerbaijani Prosecutor General's Office, Interior Ministry issue joint statement on case of NGO leaders

Prosecutor General's Office and Central Police Office issued a statement several about the arrest of Adnan Hajizadeh and Emin Abdullayev (Milli) for hooliganism they committed in the restaurant “Lebanese” in Sabayel District of Baku on July 8 and court decision about two-month pre-trial restriction.

“Joint official statement was made because some media organizations and relatives of the accused persons spread untrue reports and attempt to politicize the issue”, said the statement.

On July 8, at about 18.30 Adnan Hajizadeh and Emin Milli and five others drunk men clashed with Vusal Mammadov and Babak Huseynov, who rebuked them for non-ethic words in the restaurant “Lebanese” and committed deliberate acts of hooliganism. Four of them escaped from the site when police arrived and three, including Hajizadeh and Milli were detained. Medical examination identified that Hajizadeh and Orkhan GaFarov were drunk, but Emin Abdullayev, Vusal Mammadov and Babak Huseynov didn’t drink alcohol. Huseynov received first medical aid, but Mammadov was hospitalized with head injury.

“We protest against downgrading investigation into ordinary hooliganism case. We consider it a pressure on the investigation and unsuccessful attempt to create wrong ideas among the society that no government, but foreign countries and international organizations are interested in the development of democracy and protection of human rights in Azerbaijan. We call on the embassies of separate countries to end interference in the investigation, which is out of their diplomatic missions”.

/APA/