On January 18, a tragic accident in the Imishli district, 208 kilometers southwest of Baku, claimed the lives of two children and left two others, along with the driver, injured. The incident occurred when a State Traffic Police car collided with another vehicle, causing it to swerve off the road and strike children walking on the sidewalk. The two fatalities were minors, while the injured children and the driver were hospitalized.

In the aftermath of the accident, a crowd of disgruntled residents gathered at the scene. The protesters overturned the police vehicle and voiced sharp criticism of the authorities. Tensions escalated, resulting in an altercation between the demonstrators and law enforcement, leading to several arrests.

The Prosecutor General’s Office of Azerbaijan announced that a criminal case had been initiated under Article 263.3 of the Criminal Code, which pertains to violations of traffic rules causing death through negligence. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the accident occurred when another vehicle abruptly cut in front of the police car, causing it to lose control and hit the children. The investigation into the incident remains ongoing.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs reported that individuals involved in what it described as "hooliganism" at the protest site had been detained. A group of people accused of causing additional damage to the police vehicle was also arrested. Legal representation has been provided to the detainees, and authorities stated that the investigation is proceeding in accordance with the law.

Ali Karimli, Chairman of the opposition Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan, called for the immediate release of those detained, emphasizing the need to understand the public's emotional reaction to the children's deaths. Karimli described the damage to the police car as minimal and argued that the detainees should be interviewed and released without further charges.

Reports have surfaced alleging that detainees were subjected to torture. Relatives claim that those who overturned the police car, kicked it, or shouted "resignation" slogans were treated brutally. Some detainees were reportedly hospitalized due to injuries sustained during their detention.

Local sources reported a significant influx of police officers from outside the region, creating what residents described as an undeclared state of emergency. Allegations have emerged of authorities conducting unauthorized home searches, threatening family members, and detaining individuals in public or as they returned home.

Over 100 individuals have reportedly been detained, with some facing criminal charges and others receiving administrative detention for minor offenses. The Imishli District Court has been issuing administrative arrest orders, with detainees being held in short-term detention or awaiting prosecution.