Protests and Arrests Follow Fatal Imishli Accident Involving Traffic Police Car

Illustration: Meydan TV

A tragic traffic accident involving a State Traffic Police (YPX) vehicle in the city of Imishli on January 18 has sparked widespread outrage, protests, and a series of arrests, including the detention of a 17-year-old boy accused of causing the accident.

The incident occurred when a high-speed YPX vehicle collided with four schoolchildren, two of whom tragically lost their lives at the scene. The other two children were hospitalized with severe injuries, and the driver of the YPX vehicle also sustained injuries. The event has since sparked protests by local residents, particularly young people, who have expressed anger over the police’s role in the accident and the death of minors.

The General Prosecutor’s Office of Azerbaijan reported that the 17-year-old boy, identified as Baylar Bayramli, was arrested in connection with the deadly accident. The authorities allege that Bayramli illegally took a “Mercedes Benz 190” vehicle, belonging to a relative, without permission and drove it without a license. While operating the vehicle, he violated traffic rules, leading to the fatal crash that caused the deaths of two minors and serious injuries to another. After the accident, Bayramli reportedly fled the scene and abandoned the vehicle.

Bayramli has been charged under multiple provisions of the Azerbaijani Criminal Code, including illegal vehicle seizure, causing death due to reckless driving, and fleeing the scene of an accident. Following the investigation, the Imishli District Court ordered his arrest.

Protests Erupt Over Police Involvement

The accident has stirred significant anger within the local community, particularly due to the involvement of a police vehicle. According to eyewitnesses, the YPX vehicle was speeding when it struck the children, and the fact that the victims were minors added fuel to the fire. In response, a large group of protesters, many of them young people, gathered in the city, overturning the YPX vehicle and marching towards the Imishli District Police Department, chanting “resign” and calling for accountability.

The protests quickly escalated, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) confirmed that several individuals were detained for engaging in what they described as hooliganism. Although the MIA’s official statement reported the arrest of nine individuals, sources within the city suggest that over 100 people were taken into custody. Those detained included activists, protest organizers, and others who had been involved in clashing with police or flipping over the YPX vehicle.

The MIA also issued a statement confirming that the detained individuals were primarily accused of attacking the police vehicle and engaging in acts of vandalism. Local sources reported that some of the protesters were taken from their homes in the middle of the night and later released.

Following the protests, a heightened security regime was imposed in Imishli, with police forces reportedly stationed around key locations, including administrative buildings, parks, and public squares. Social media reports also indicate that Internal Troops have been deployed in the city, and several roads have been blocked.

In addition, local residents have claimed that internet access in Imishli has been cut off in an apparent attempt to control the flow of information and suppress further unrest. The crackdown has been extended to those writing about the incident, with reports of activists being summoned by the police and having their social media posts deleted under pressure.

Musavat Party Activists Detained

Several political activists, including members of the opposition Musavat Party, have also been caught in the wave of arrests following the incident. Musavat activist Alikram Khurshidov was detained in Shirvan at around 2:00 AM on January 19. The Shirvan City Court later sentenced him to 10 days of administrative detention on charges of minor hooliganism. Khurshidov’s detention is part of a wider crackdown on individuals who have been vocal about the Imishli incident on social media.

Farac Karimli, the deputy chairman of the Musavat Party, reported that his father, Raqif Karimli, a longtime party member, was also targeted by police. The authorities had contacted Karimli and insisted that he report to the Sabail District Police Department on January 19, even though he was ill. His son condemned the harassment, particularly the police’s actions in disturbing his elderly father, who suffers from high blood pressure.

The growing number of arrests and the government’s response to the protests have raised concerns about freedom of expression and the right to protest in Azerbaijan. Many fear that the crackdown is part of a broader effort to suppress dissent, especially amid rising tensions over police accountability and the deaths of innocent children.

The protests in Imishli, along with the arrest of activists and attempts to silence social media coverage, underscore the widespread frustration with the authorities’ handling of the situation. Many residents are demanding justice for the victims of the traffic accident and accountability for those responsible, including the police officer involved in the crash.

As the investigation continues, the public’s calls for transparency and justice grow louder, with many hopeful that the authorities will address the concerns of the local population and ensure that those responsible for the tragedy are held accountable.

The situation in Imishli remains tense, with ongoing protests and a heavy police presence in the area, signaling that the confrontation over the incident is far from over.

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