On May 14th staffers of SalamNews Information Agency (www.salamnew.org) and InterAz TV (www.interaztv.com), Rauf Ahmadov (correspondent) and Baba Khalafov (video operator), were attacked by the police while performing their job, Rauf Ahmadov told the Institute for Reporters’ Freedom and Safety (IRFS) on May 15.
According to the journalist, they saw Transport Ministry employees of Qusar district chase a Ford Transit car on Baku-Quba-Russia highway and filmed the scene.
“Failing to stop the car, employees of the transport department barred our way. When I asked why they stopped us they attacked and began to punch me. They tried to seize our equipment. We reported the incident to the Qusar Post of the State Road Transport Service of the Ministry of Transport. The chief of the post, who did not introduce himself, said it was an unacceptable case and added that employees of the Department have no authority to stop cars. We have made a complaint to Qusar District Police Office in connection with the assault” said Ahmadov.
IRFS contacted Qusar District Police Office to get comments on the matter. However the employee of the police office, who answered the phone, said they had not received any assault report and were totally unaware of the issue.