D.C. protesters say they were attacked by guards of Azerbaijan president

"Protesters calling for the release of political prisoners in Azerbaijan said they were attacked Thursday afternoon by bodyguards protecting Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev outside the Waldorf Astoria hotel on Washington's Pennsylvania Ave., a few blocks from the White House. Rahim Yagublu, 27, an Uber driver whose father is imprisoned in Azerbaijan, said he was protesting outside the hotel early Thursday afternoon when Aliyev's bodyguards began beating him, striking him in the jaw and kicking him in the stomach."

"Adil Amrakhly, 35, another protester, said that he injured his leg while running from the guards and that at least four others, including Yagublu, were injured. Aliyev, who has presided for decades over an autocratic crackdown on dissent in Azerbaijan, was in Washington, along with other leaders and top officials from around the world, for the inaugural meeting of President Donald Trump's Board of Peace."

Protesters calling for the release of political prisoners in Azerbaijan were attacked by bodyguards of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev outside the Waldorf Astoria on Pennsylvania Avenue near the White House. Rahim Yagublu said bodyguards struck him in the jaw and kicked him in the stomach. Adil Amrakhly said he injured his leg while fleeing and at least four people were injured. Aliyev attended an international meeting in Washington. D.C. police and Secret Service officers were at the scene, and the matter was referred to the State Department. The State Department and Azerbaijan's embassy did not immediately comment.

Read at The Washington Post