Police to prevent unsanctioned protests

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
posted Aug 15 2005

Baku, August 12, AssA-Irada — Police will prevent all future
unsanctioned protest actions, Interior Minister Ramil Usubov told
reporters on Friday.

The Minister said that if major opposition Popular Front Party (PFPA)
wants to hold any protest over the recent arrest of youth movement
chairman Ruslan Bashirli, it may proceed strictly with the permission
of the mayor’s office.

Bashirli is charged with plotting with Armenian secret service to
stage a coup in Azerbaijan.

“In case of sanctioned protest actions, the police is required
and will ensure the safety of the protesters or any other people.”
Touching upon the clashes during rallies outside the PFPA office
a few days ago, the Minister said the law enforcement succeeded in
preventing those unsanctioned protest actions. “If the police force
had not thwarted those protests, other developments would have taken
place there”, he said.

Usubov said that only sanctioned protests will be allowed. The
opposition’s August 27 rally will be given a go-ahead as well,
he added.*