Arzu Sayadoglu (Mammadov) – blogger of the YouTube channel Arzu Sayadoglu and head of the Public Service Movement Date of arrest: 16 January 2024 Charge: Article 182.2.4 (Extortion committed with causing damage to a victim in significant size) of the Criminal Code of the Azerbaijan Republic.
On 18 January 2024, the Baku City Sabayil District court issued an order: to satisfy the investigator’s petition on arrest and issue a preventive measure against Arzu Sayadoglu in the form of arrest for a period of 4 months.
The period of detention in custody during the investigation has been subsequently extended several times 18 Place of detention: Pre-trial Detention Center of the State Security Service.
Conclusion: Arzu Sayadoglu, a blogger, lived in a rented flat in Baku and was known for his critical views of the Azerbaijani authorities.
On 13 January 2024, Arzu Sayadoglu once again harshly criticised the Azerbaijani authorities on the occasion of the extraordinary presidential elections on his YouTube channel Azad Soz (Azerb.
"Free Thought").
He called on the citizens of the republic "not to be silent" and "to participate in the peaceful protests".
Right after that he ceased to contact his relatives who lived in the village of Bozalganli in the Tovuz region.
He didn't contact his friends either.
Later, the human rights activists found out that he had been arrested by the State Security Service, who charged him with racketeering, although the nature of the racketeering was not specified.
The human rights activists related the blogger's arrest to his political activity and appeals to protests.
