Today, 17 September, at around 10:30 a.m., “Ayna” and “Zerkalo” newspapers’ correspondent and the Institute for Reporters’ Freedom and Safety employee Idrak Abbasov faced pressure by police and the employees of the Ministry of Transportation, Baku Passenger Transport LTD’s fine station located by “Elit” trade center.
Idrak Abbasov told IRFS that he was detained illegally for an hour.
“Several drivers of the bus #156 A have gone on strike since September 15 (the first day of school in Azerbaijan) to protest the increase of daily plan,” said Abbasov. “I went to the fine station to investigate the situation. I was taking pictures of the buses that had been taken to the station when a police sergeant and two employees of the Transportation Department attacked me. They took my photo-camera, journalist card and cell phone, twisted my arms, and took me to a room.”
I.Abbasov emphasized that all these occurred in front of the drivers, and he was psychologically pressured in the room.
“Baku Passenger Transport Technical Supervision Department Head Niyazi Rustamov called some places to find out whether I was a racketeering journalist. Then his attitude towards me changed. He and people detaining me apologized,” said I.Abbasov adding that he will not appeal to law enforcement organs. “I will not complain since they apologized in front of the drivers and responded to my questions,” added Abbasov.
“Several drivers of the bus #156 A have gone on strike since September 15 (the first day of school in Azerbaijan) to protest the increase of daily plan,” said Abbasov. “I went to the fine station to investigate the situation. I was taking pictures of the buses that had been taken to the station when a police sergeant and two employees of the Transportation Department attacked me. They took my photo-camera, journalist card and cell phone, twisted my arms, and took me to a room.”
I.Abbasov emphasized that all these occurred in front of the drivers, and he was psychologically pressured in the room.
“Baku Passenger Transport Technical Supervision Department Head Niyazi Rustamov called some places to find out whether I was a racketeering journalist. Then his attitude towards me changed. He and people detaining me apologized,” said I.Abbasov adding that he will not appeal to law enforcement organs. “I will not complain since they apologized in front of the drivers and responded to my questions,” added Abbasov.