UN experts urged to release ex-MP Huseyn Abdullayev from prison

Baku/27.04.21/Turan:  UN human rights experts urged the immediate release of ex-MP Huseyn Abdullayev from prison. According to the message published on April 27 on the website of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Abdullayev, who was granted asylum in Germany was arrested in Turkey on April 21, 2018 and was forcibly deported to Azerbaijan the next day. On October 1, 2019, he was sentenced by the Baku Military Court to six years in prison.

In August 2020, the Working Group on Arbitrary Arrests, in its conclusion 48/2020, concluded that Abdullayev's arrest was unlawful due to the lack of legal grounds, the message goes on to say.

In August 2020, the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention concluded that the detention of Mr. Abdullayev was arbitrary given the absence of a legal basis. It was also established that basic guarantees of due process and a fair trial were not respected, including the trial proceedings before a Military Court, despite Mr. Abdullayev's civilian status. The Working Group further concluded that the extradition of Mr. Abdullayev, who was entitled to international protection, to Azerbaijan by Turkey violated the principle of non-refoulement.

"We have received reports that Mr. Abdullayev's physical and mental health condition is deteriorating, including by presenting a critical increase in his arterial blood pressure. In addition, he is experiencing a severe neurosis," the experts said, adding that he had recently started a hunger strike to protest his detention.

The statement was signed by independent experts, members of the Working Group on Arbitrary Arrests, UN special rapporteurs on various human rights issues.

On April 23, Abdullayev, after a request from the Strasbourg court, was transferred to the Medical Institution of the Penitentiary Service. However, according to Abdullayev's lawyer Javad Javadov, despite the weakening of internal bleeding, there is no significant progress towards improving the convict’s health.

The defense insists on admitting medical specialists attracted by his family to Abdullayev, as well as transferring him to a civilian clinic for a surgical operation.

* Huseyn Abdullayev, a native of the Nakhchivan region in the 1990s, occupied leading positions in the oil and oil products business. Groups under his control took part in dispersing opposition protests.

In 2005, Abdullayev became a member of parliament and criticized the activities of the Cabinet of Ministers. In March 2007, at a parliamentary meeting, pro-government deputy Fazail Agamaly provoked Abdullayev into a fight. However, only Abdullayev was punished. He was first arrested, and later sentenced for hooliganism to 2 years of probation.

In 2013, he emigrated from Azerbaijan. Some time later,  a  lawsuit was filed against him on  tax charges.

While living in Germany, Abdullayev prepared and published on the social network a number of songs calling for mass protests.  On April 22, 2018, Abdullayev was detained in Turkey, where he arrived from Germany, and was extradited to Azerbaijan.

In Baku, he was charged under the following Articles of the Criminal Code: 192.2.2 (illegal business with the extraction of large income), 178.2.1 (fraud), 178.2.2, 178.2.4 (fraud), 182.2.1 (extortion by threats by prior conspiracy of persons), 182.2.2 (the same actions repeated) and 182.2.4 (the same actions committed with inflicting large damage on the victim). He was subsequently sentenced to 6 years in prison. -06B-