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In the Azerbaijani city Mingachevir, 275 km to the West from the capital of Azerbaijan, the death of the local Bahruz Hajiyev in police station on August 20 led to a mass protest on Saturday. Hundreds of people, mainly young men, gathered in the central streets, where clashes with police squads took place. The spontaneous protest started after Hajivev’s funeral, when he was learnt to have committed suicide after tortures in the police station. He threw himself out of the third floor window and fell to his death, according to the Azerbaijani information agency Turan.

Caucasian Knot reports that the locals and protesters said Bahruz Hajiyev, 27, had died in the city police on August 20. “He died 20 minutes after being taken to the police allegedly on the suspicion of illegal drug trafficking. The police told Hajiyev’s family that he had thrown himself off the third floor. However, the young man’s parents believe he has been killed in the police station, as there are signs of violence on his body, particularly traces of beatings with baton and use of electroshock weapon,” a local said.

The building of the police station was guarded by the MIA quick reaction forces. Those gathered were recommended to leave. When they refused to obey, the police rushed into the demonstrators striking on their shields with batons and dispersed them. The police went on “cleaning” the streets demanding the citizens not to stand on the sidewalks and leave, Caucasian Knot reports.
Azerbaijan MIA claims four police officers were injured while dispersing the protesters. MIA further states that a group of Mingachevir residents grossly violated public order and committed acts of hooliganism, attempting to hold a march in the city center after the funeral on August 22.

MIA informed about the detention of 21 protesters in Mingachevir. A local activist said the tensions remain high in the city, as well as the discontent with the actions of the law enforcements agencies. He said there is a large number of police officers and MIA quick reaction forces, who have taken the downtown and the administrative buildings of state authorities’ agencies under increased control.

RFE/RL reports that a criminal case has been initiated in Mingachevir Police Station on Bahruz Hajiyev’s death and an investigation is underway. “According to the joint information of MIA and Prosecutor General’s Office, it was found that the officer of the criminal investigation department, senior lieutenant of police, Shahlar Shahlarzade, violated his position requirements regarding the suspects’ detention and protection and did not ensure Bahruz Hajiyev’s security, which brought about grave results,” the report says.

On August 21, a young man died in a police station in the city Mingachevir, Azerbaijan. Hajiyev Bahruz Dilsuz Oglu (born in 1988) was reportedly summoned to the police station for interrogation. He died about 20 minutes later after entering into the police station. The police claims the young man suddenly threw himself out of the window and died. The reason why he was summoned remains unknown so far. The family of the dead young man, gathered in front of the police station, started to quarrel with the guards, which grew into a real confrontation. Footage from the scene of the incident shows that the police were in special uniforms and armed with batons and shields.