Arrests of "Tartar case" perpetrators started

Baku/09.02.22/Turan: On February 9, the General Prosecutor's Office announced the arrest of four individuals responsible for torturing the arrested soldiers in the so-called "Tartar case".

A new investigation into the sensational case was launched in December last year following numerous protests and demands from relatives of those tortured during the investigation of alleged espionage in favor of Armenia.

So far, 163 new victims have been identified, 281 in all. All of them suffered from tortures and other illegal actions.

They have been interrogated thoroughly and their forensic examination has been carried out, as the General Prosecutor's Office informed on February 9.

The Prosecutor General's Office urged persons who were subjected to tortures, physical and psychological pressures in May-June 2017 but were not recognized as victims to call "961" and 012-361-16-47 and come to the investigation for questioning.

Besides, the deputy Prosecutor General has filed an appeal for annulment of court decisions and additional investigation of 16 people, who were prosecuted for treason, but after not confirmed, were convicted for crimes against military service.

At the same time, the Prosecutor General cancelled a decision of December 19, 2017 to terminate criminal proceedings against those accused of treason Elchin Matlab oglu Guliyev. The case was terminated due to his death but not on acquittal grounds. In this connection, an objective investigation of the circumstances related to Guliev will be carried out.

During investigation of the facts of tortures, illegal deprivation of liberty and abuse of power were brought to criminal responsibility: Vusal Aziz oglu Aleskerov, Rustam Cherkez oglu Aleskerov, Ramil Fariz oglu Garayev. They were charged under Articles 145.3 (unlawful imprisonment), 293.2 (tortures committed by an official of a state body in connection with his official duties, or by a person acting in his capacity or with his instigation or consent), 341.2.2 (abuse or excess of power, group of persons) and 341.2.3 (the same actions that led to grave acts).

Another defendant in the case, Akhundov Fuad Arazi oglu, was charged under Articles 127.2.2 (intentional infliction of less serious harm to health with particular cruelty), 145.3, 293.3, 341.2.2 and 341.2.3 of the Criminal Code.

By court decisions, they are placed in custody, according to the report of the Prosecutor General's Office.  However, it is not specified who these arrested persons are and what positions they occupied.

Added to this can be that the Military Prosecutor's Office was in charge of the "Tartar case," and tortures were committed in Tartar itself by servicemen against their own fellow servicemen.-06B-