Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
BAKU, Azerbaijan (AP) — The head of Azeri opposition party Popular Front faces legal action after authorities arrested him in Baku for attempting to lead an unsanctioned demonstration.
Ali Karimli was detained Saturday while leading a procession through Baku's Alley of Martyrs, a national cemetery, to honor Azerbaijan's fallen on a holiday marking independence from the Soviet Union.
A Baku police statement said Sunday that "as a result of police efforts to prevent an unauthorized rally, 52 participants were detained by the police." The statement said that 41 were released and 11 remained in detention.
Among those freed was the head of another opposition movement, Jamil Hasanli of the National Council of Democratic Forces, who was arrested with Karimli for organizing the rally.
Karimli and the 10 activists still in detention face administrative charges.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
