The European Democratic Youth Network is concerned about the reports of violent dispersal of the participants of the peaceful demonstrations against the environmental disaster in the village of Soyudlu in Azerbaijan. According to the platform, it is also worrisome that the activists and journalists who expressed dissatisfaction with the incident were unfairly punished by the authorities. The European Democratic Youth Network called on the official Baku to ensure the fundamental rights of the citizens of Azerbaijan.
Earlier, the residents of Soyudlu village held demonstrations, protested against the construction of another artificial lake in the settlement, which is intended for the removal of chemical waste from the gold mine. During the actions, there were clashes between the residents and the police. The law enforcement officers used tear gas, brutally beat the protesters with batons, it is known about the injured and the arrested.
Against the background of what happened, Ilham Aliyev blamed the country's Ministry of Nature Protection, noted that due to the negligence of the structure, foreign investors poisoned the nature of Azerbaijan.
He stated that some citizens gave in to provocations and carried out illegal actions. Aliyev also blamed the citizens who threw stones at the police during the demonstrations. The President of Azerbaijan highly appreciated the actions of the police in the village and completely justified them.
