Azerbaijan Committee Against Tortures announces its annual report 2005

Head of the ACAT Elchin Behbudov told APA that the report was made on the basis of official complaints received during monitoring of different detention places and wards in Azerbaijan. The report reads that 80 civilians suffered tortures in wards and temporary detention places in Azerbaijan. Three citizens-former candidate in parliamentary elections from Lankaran ConEC #73 Etibar Asadov, servicemen of a military unit in Ganja and resident of Sumgayit city Nadir Valiyev died suffering tortures.

29 members of pro-opposition parties, who were arrested during May 21, 2005 rally underwent tortures in detention places. 7 of them are PFPA members and 22 are members of Musavat Party.

The report announced the names of officers of force structures who used torture. They are investigator of Baku Prosecutor's office Maharram Azizbayov, chief of police station #30 of Surakhani district police office Fuad Mammadov, deputy chief of Zagatala region police department Javanshir Babayev, officer of Jalilabad region police department Ibrahim Ibishov, deputy chief of Salyan region police department Mirzagha Gafarov, officer of Aghdash region police department Mehman Pashayev and former ensign of a military unit of Defense Ministry in Terter, Altay Bayramov.

The report also reads that the ACAT monitored the ward of the National Security Ministry (MNS). The sanitary and detention conditions in the ward meet European standards. The ward of the MNS is the only detention place in the country that compiles act on tortures against detainees. The ACAT monitored this ward for three times within three years.

The head of the ACAT met with former ministers Farhad Aliyev and Ali Insanov as well as president of Azpetrol Group of Companies Rafig Aliyev, former Finance Minister Fikret Yusifov, who are accused of high crimes. The above mentioned persons complain of only slow investigation.

The ACAT also made public the result of the monitoring held in Closed Special Compulsory Treatment Center at Health Ministry. The report says that sanitary conditions are very poor in the Treatment Center. The rooms are small and windows are closed.

The Azerbaijan Committee Against Tortures negatively assessed the conditions of detention places in Azerbaijan.

The report has been sent to the international human rights organizations and to relevant instances in Azerbaijan to take necessary actions.