Human Rights Watch (HRW): to ensure the rights of arrested in Ismailli

 The Azerbaijani authorities should ensure that all persons detained in connection with the riots and protests in Ismayilliregion have lawyers, and  not to treat them cruelly. The authorities must also ensure access for independent observers in Ismailli, reads the statement said the human rights organization Human Rights Watch.

The statement says that three lawyers reported a violation  of procedure norms and beating a detainee in prison. On January 29 Ismailli police stopped a group of 20 human rights defenders who were  conducting a monitoring. 

The organization called on the government to ensure an open and impartial investigation into the events in Ismailli, and assess the law and actions of the police.

The HRW representative, Georgi Gogia,  called on the authorities to refrain from the use of disproportionate force against peaceful demonstrators. "Azerbaijan should heed the recommendations of the Council of Europe and to end the prohibition of peaceful assembly, the release of all persons detained for the public expression of their views, as well as to investigate the actions of law enforcement agencies,"  said Gogia. -02D-