Aytan Mammedova

Affiliated media: Radio Azadlyg, Correspondent

Incident date: February 11, 2020

Attack type:

• Short-term detention

Who attacked: Authorities

Source: RSF

Location: Azerbaijan, Baku

Additional information:

When a sit-in by opposition candidates outside the Central Electoral Commission in Baku was violently dispersed by special forces amid mounting tension on the night of 11 February, some journalists were able to flee but around seven were arrested and beaten. Meydan TV reporter Sevinj Vagifgizi suffered a serious hand injury and bruising to her face. Voice of America journalists Ulviyya Guliyeva and Aygun Rashidova, the correspondent of Radio Azadlig (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s Azeri-language service), Aytan Mammedova, and two freelancers, Aynur Elgunesh (who was hit on the head) and Aytaj Taptyg, were also driven around the outskirts of the city for about two hours and then released far from the main highway.