The Azerbaijani journalists detained while covering a demonstration calling for war with Armenia were released on Friday, over two days later.
They were detained on 14 July when protesters marched through Baku demanding the government to provide them with weapons to back the army in their fight with Armenia. Some of them broke into the parliament building, after which security forces were deployed to disperse the crowd.
The recent border skirmishes killed twelve officers and one civilian from Azerbaijan, as well four officers from Armenia. Authorities in both countries blamed each other for starting the fighting.
The journalists remained in police custody for more than 60 hours, adding that they were covering the rally when the incident happened. The journalists said that the conditions of detention were substandard.
"We were six people in a nine square meter room. It was stuffy," told one of them who requested anonymity.
The journalists said they would lodge a complaint.
Matanat Mahmarzayeva, a member of Azerbaijan Popular Front Party (PFP) who was also detained during the protest, was also released on Friday.
Mahmarzayeva said that she was interrogated in connection with a criminal case, without elaborating on the details.
So far, none of the authorities commented on the arrests that followed the recent demonstration in Baku.
Azerbaijan's Prosecutor General's Office and the Interior Ministry said in a statement that a criminal case was launched into the incident and an investigation was underway. However, the authorities declined to say how many people were detained during the protest.
Some human rights activists estimate that 70 people were detained on the night of 14-15 July.
