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Another Azerbaijani youth activist detained

August 03, 2009

BAKU - An Azerbaijani youth activist has been detained in Baku and charged with desertion from the military, RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service reports.

Agasif Shakiroglu, the head of the youth coalition Hadaf, told RFE/RL that the accusations against him are groundless, as he made several appeals to the government to call him to serve in the military, but he has never been called up.

Shakiroglu says the accusation was made for political reasons in order to frighten young people away from participating in sociopolitical activities.

Shakiroglu is a friend of Emin Milli and Adnan Hajizade, who were detained in early June and charged with hooliganism.

The Narimanov Prosecutor's Office told RFE/RL that it received information about Shakiroglu's alleged desertion beginning in July 2008, and they are investigating the issue.

Link to original story on RFE/RL website

Topics: Human rights activists,