Investigation into February 19 clashes started

The Baku City Prosecutor’s Office has started investigation into street clashes in Baku on February 19, says a joint news release from Prosecutor’s office and the MIA.

The law-enforcement bodies say around 500-600 members of the former society of the Garabagh handicapped, their families and specially invited people gathered to the intersection of Ziya Bunyadov and Druzhba Molodiozhi streets at 4 p.m. on February 19 and blocked one of the main arteries of the capital.

Tolerating the illegal acts by protesters and attempts of organizers to provoke clashes and stand-off, the police repeatedly called on calm and dispersal. However, the most ardent protesters did instigate public disarray by overturning three police cars and injuring 20 policemen.

As a result of the measures taken, further enlargement of the campaign was prevented.

The report also says that the core reason for what happened is the attempt of the former society of the Garabagh handicapped to distract public attention from its criminal deeds. According to preliminary data, chairman of the society Etimad Asadov and his immediate surroundings have committed financial violations in running the society. Thus, members of the society board Ziyaddin Abbasov, Rafael Hasanov and others have embezzled around AZM1 billion from the 5 buses owned by the society’s “Unix” firm. The money was intended to be provided to the handicapped.

Investigation into these facts has been started.*