An action demanding the release of blogger Mehman Huseynov was held today near the Neftchilar metro station.

A group of members of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan and a number of public activists participated in the rally.

Approximately 10-15 people chanted slogans “Freedom to Mehman Huseynov!”, “Freedom of political prisoners!” and others.

Five minutes after the start of the rally, police officers began to detain its participants, including women.

The detainees were taken to the 24th office of the Nizami district police department.

One of the participants of the picket said that the action was a success.

“Despite the threat of detention, we were able to focus public attention on the problem of political prisoners,” he said.

* Mehman Huseynov was arrested in March 2017, and sentenced to 2 years in prison under a libel suit filed by the head of the Nasimi police.

On December 26, a new charge was brought against him of beating a jail employee; and he was placed in a punishment cell. In protest, he went on a dry hunger strike. On December 30, the blogger”s health worsened dramatically, he collapsed. After that, at the insistence of his relatives, he stopped a dry hunger strike and began to take water.

Human rights activists are convinced that Huseynov is being persecuted for exposing corruption among high-ranking officials, as well as criticizing the authorities.

Among the detained during the rally in defense of Mehman Huseynov are journalists AfganSadigov (Azel TV), NurlanGahramanov (Kanal-13), Ali Abdinov (website AzerbaijanisynSesi) _ and SevinjVagifgyzy.