Elena Patyaeva—a friend of Seda Suleymanova, who disappeared three years ago after being forcibly returned from St. Petersburg to Chechnya—was detained in Grozny. On August 23, Patyaeva stood by the monument to journalists who died for freedom of speech, holding a sign that read: "I demand an investigation into the murder of Seda Suleymanova." This was reported by the human rights project "Slovo Zashchite" (Word for the Defense).
The international human rights organization Amnesty International has launched a campaign in defense of opposition politician and economist Gubad Ibadoglu, who was arrested in Azerbaijan. “The arrest and prosecution of Gubad Ibadoglu is an obvious revenge for criticizing the Azerbaijani government, political and public activities. This is also revenge for helping to create a fund that sought to allocate funds for the country's students from foreign assets seized from Azerbaijani corrupt officials,” the appeal to the president says.
Gubad Ibadoglu has serious health problems, type 2 diabetes and hypertension, his life is in danger due to poor conditions in the pre-trial detention center and the lack of adequate medical care, the organization's website says. Amnesty International called on Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to release Ibadoglu.
Gubad Ibadoglu was detained on July 23 and charged with possession of counterfeit money. Earlier, he criticized the Azerbaijani authorities, initiated the confiscation of property from officials.