Oruj Zalov: "During mass actions in the framework of elections, police will act strictly in line with the law"

- Azerbaijan is in the threshold of presidential elections at the moment. Which measures are taken to ensure maximal observation of human rights by law enforcement bodies during mass actions and their possible dispersal to avert violations, recorded during the previous elections?

- As you know, Azerbaijan has recently adopted a law "On Freedom of Assembly" and all necessary measures will be taken strictly in the framework of this law.

- OSCE Baku office usually pays great attention to ensuring norms of democracy in the activity of the police. Will special trainings be held on this line to enlighten the policemen on the issue of human rights and liberties this time as well?

- Yes, they will. I would like to note that all tasks, set before the police by the electoral legislation, will be executed after it is approved by Milli Medjlis.

- According to reports of local and foreign human rights organizations, the detainees are still subjected to tortures in the police stations in Azerbaijan...

- It is a lie. There is nothing of the kind there.

- Nevertheless, this fact has been also fixed in the recent report of the US Department of State.

- I repeat that this is not true. No such facts have been recorded in Azerbaijan.

Moreover, Azerbaijan has ombudsman's institute, which controls human rights observance in the country. By the way, this issue has become the main topic of the recent international conference of ombudsmen, held in Baku.

- How about information that the number of crimes solved has decreased in the country?

- This is also not true. On the contrary, as compared to the previous years, the number of criminal cases solved is on the higher level. This is proven by reports, presented by the Minister of Internal Affairs during the collegiums of the Ministry. In line with the information, provided at the recent session of the collegium, it has been proven that combat with crimes, conducted in Azerbaijan, is intensifying each year.

/Day.Az/