Statement of N!DA Civic Movement

Board member of N!DA Civic Movement Zaur Gurbanli was arrested by plainclothed persons in front of the building, where he was living, in the morning hours of 29 September 2012. Later his apartment was searched by these people.
At the same time the office of Positive Change Youth Movement was searched by a number of plainclothed persons. They presented themselves as representatives of the Senior Department Against Organized Crime of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. During the search print materials of N!DA were found in the office of Positive Change Youth Movement. Later video with participation of Zaur Gurbanli, who was brought to the office, was shot and belonging of the print materials to N!DA was confirmed. After that, Zaur Gurbanli was taken to unknown direction. According to one of the plainclotheds, Zaur was being taken to the Yasamal District Police Department, but the aforementioned police department denied that Zaur was there. After that, members of N!DA Civic Movement appealed to the Senior Department Against Organized Crime and the press service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs with regards to whereabouts of Zaur, but it was impossible to get any response.
Later calls of members of N!DA Civic Movement to hotlines of the State Public Prosecutor’s Office, the Baku City Public Prosecutor’s Office and Ombudsman’s Office remained unanswered.
Afterwards board member of N!DA Civic Movement Rashad Hasanov was able to provide broad information regarding the situation to “102 hotline service” of the Ministry of Internal Affars.
One of the witnesses of the search in the office of Positive Change Youth Movement saw a plainclothed person, who was accompanying Zaur Gurbanli, in front of the office of the Senior Department Against Organized Crime. Thus, it is assumed that, Zaur Gurbanli is being held in the Senior Department Against Organized Crime.
N!DA Civic Movement condemns this unlawful detainment and expect all international and local human rights organizations to follow this issue and demonstrate fair position.
We demand Zaur Gurbanli’s immediate release!