In Azerbaijan, editor-in-chief of newspaper "Tolyshi Sado" detained

In Baku, Khilal Mamedov, the editor-in-chief of the newspaper "Tolyshi Sado", published in the Talysh language, the deputy head of the Talysh Cultural Centre, was detained on suspicion of drug possession.

Detention of Khilal Mamedov was reported by the Institute for Peace and Democracy (IPD), which collaborated with the journalist.

According to Leila Yunus, Director of the IPD, Khilal Mamedov left his house at about 10:00 a.m. to visit his relative in a hospital. At 11:30 a.m., Khilal Mamedov called home and said that he would return in 30 minutes. After that, he disappeared.

"From 2:00 p.m. till 3:30 p.m., an unidentified male voice answered the calls to his mobile phone, who said that Khilal Mamedov could not answer the phone, since he was being examined by a doctor. After 3:30 p.m., the mobile phone was switched off. At 4:20 p.m., the brother of Khilal Mamedov was informed that Khilal was detained by the police and no explanation followed," Leila Yunus has emphasized.

At 5:30 p.m., a representative of the Baku Police confirmed the information on detention of Khilal Mamedov on charges of illegal possession of drugs.

Rafiq Djalilov, Second Deputy of the Talysh Cultural Centre, called charges of illegal possession of drugs, filed against Khilal Mamedov, absurd. "Khilal Mamedov does even not smoke cigarettes," Rafiq Djalilov said.

Khilal Mamedov is the author of the video "Who are you? Come on, goodbye!", which became popular among Russian Internet users.

The video was posted on the "YouTube" service. The author shot an episode of Talysh wedding a contest of singers, who sang in the style of "Meikhana" of Azerbaijani music.

Khilal Mamedov gave several interviews to Russian media, including becoming the main character of the TV programme on the NTV Channel, and reported on his video, the news agency "Turan" reports.

Khilal Mamedov defended rights of Novruzali Mamedov, the former head of the Talysh Cultural Centre and the former editor-in-chief of the newspaper "Tolyshi Sado", and taught physics at the Baku University.

The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent did not succeed in getting comments in the Chief Department of the Baku Police and the Azerbaijani Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA). Officials of that institutions stated that they did not have any information on the detention of Khilal Mamedov.

The IPD treats the detention of Khilal Mammadov as pressure on the civil activists and calls on the authorities to immediately release him. The IPD also reminds that in February 2008, professor and linguist Novruzali Mamedov, the previous editor-in-chief of the "Tolyshi Sado", was arrested.