VIDEO: Aliyev's Aim is War: What Azerbaijani Bloggers are Saying About the Baku Protests

“Dictator Aliyev, who tries to defend the rights of Azerbaijanis living in Iran, commits violence against people in Azerbaijan every day. The goal of this terrorist is to go to war under the pretext of something else. Those who associate with Aliyev should look and be ashamed.” This was stated by an Azerbaijani blogger, the creator of the ‘Dictator’ television project, commenting on the protests taking place yesterday in Baku.

During a rally organized by the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan in Baku, at least 150 people were detained, while around 50 others were arrested by law enforcement before the rally began, and excessive force was used during these arrests.

Baku authorities refused to approve a rally announced by the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (APFP) on November 11, which demanded freedom of assembly, the release of political prisoners, holding free elections, and democratic reforms. The opposition argued that the refusal was contrary to the Constitution, stating that they would hold the rally anyway. The police did not allow the opposition to hold the rally in Baku, claiming that the city authorities deemed it “inappropriate,” said Zeyni Huseynov, head of the press service of the Azerbaijani Ministry of Internal Affairs. Preventive detentions of opposition members began the day before the protest, and just minutes after they started, several dozen people were detained.