Azerbaijani Youth Activists Sentenced, Their Supporters Clash With Police (VIDEO)

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By RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service

BAKU -- Dozens of activists in Azerbaijan clashed with police in Baku after a court issued sentences against eight activists of the youth opposition NIDA movement.

The court found the eight guilty of organizing mass disorders, and illegal drugs and weapons possession and sentenced them to jail terms between six and eight years on May 6. Dozens of the sentenced activists' supporters protested the sentences near the court building.

Police forcibly dispersed the protesters detaining several of them, including some individuals wearing vests with "PRESS" inscription. The eight NIDA activists were arrested after they took part in an antigovernment protest in Baku in March last year.

They and their mothers have been on hunger strike protesting their arrest.

Azerbaijan is expected to take over the rotating chairmanship of the Council of Europe this month. Last week, the U.S. State Department expressed concerns over the situation faced by the eight NIDA activists.

WATCH VIDEO: Police forcibly dispersed the protesters