Baku police detain dozens of opposition activists in Azerbaijan

Baku police today detained dozens of opposition activists on their way to a rally outside the Mayor's Office.

The rally organized by the opposition Azadliq (Liberty) political grouping, included the Azerbaijan Popular Front Party, the Liberal Party, and the Civil and Development Party. They were picketing the Mayor's Office to demand the authorities respect freedom of assembly.

However police and plainclothes officers did not allow the activists to gather at the city hall, detaining the demonstrators in small groups near the Iceri Seher subway station. Police said protesters were arrested because the gathering was not sanctioned by city authorities.

Story and Photos by: RFE/RL