08/09/2010 14:13
Azerbaijan: police violently fire tear gas on believers
Azerbaijan’s police used tear gas and batons to break up a protest over the arrest of a leader and religious activist.
The clashes between protesters and police occurred in Lankon town of the southern region of Azerbaijan.
According to the report by Real Caucasus agency, protesters gathered to demand to free the political prisoner and religious activist Gysmet Isayev. In response to protesters, police used tear gas and batons as well as stun electric shockers.
The police said that officers tried to disperse the crown in line with violation of the law on free assemblies.
It’s worth mentioning that Lankon (Lenkoran) is a historical capital of Talysh, a region settled by Iranian-speaking Talyshes who are the indigenous (autochthonous) population of this part of Azerbaijan.