UN experts state problems in the judicial system of Azerbaijan

 During the visit to Azerbaijan  on 16-25 May the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Arrests  expressed in the final statement concern about the content of the special disabled facilities, including persons with mental and intellectual disabilities. "Keeping disabled individuals in closed institutions reduces the possibility of their reintegration, violates international standards and probably indicates the opening of the way for the life of their punishment,"  said the head of the working group Setondzhi Roland Adjovi (from Benin) at the Baku press-conference on 25 May.

Over ten days Adjovi together with his deputy, Jose Guevara (Mexico) visited 25 places of detention and punishment, we interviewed more than 80 prisoners, met with government officials, civil society representatives in Baku, Ganja, Nakhchivan. The mechanism of judicial supervision does not create an opportunity to challenge compulsory treatment," reads a statement.

The Working Group recommends to eliminate this vicious practice of infringement of the rights of this category of persons with disabilities. The Working Group observed wide practice of violations of the rule of law, the rights of an immediate awareness of the charges, access to a lawyer, the right to protest the detention, prohibition of torture and ill-treatment. The Working Group is concerned with the treatment of juvenile. "Many minors are arrested, even for less serious crimes. Poor conditions create problems for their rehabilitation and return to education. "

The Working Group noted the transformation of prosecution into the tool to silence human rights defenders, journalists and political opponents. " Among them are  Ilgar Mamedov, Khadija Ismayilova and Zeynalabdin Bagirov. Today the Supreme Court has conditionally freed Khadija Ismailova, and this fact will be fully analyzed. But  such as the activists Rashad Ramazanov and journalist Nijat Aliyev still remain in detention,"  reads  the statement.

The concern of the working group on limitations of rights applies to the pressure on lawyers activists.

The Working Party is ready to support the Government in implementing reforms in the country's legal system. The Working Group report will be presented in September 2017 at the UN Human Rights Council.

Asking the  question from Turan  whether the members of the Working Group  recorded torture of  activists Bayram Mammadov and Giyas Ibrahimov, Adjovi said that he saw injuries on their bodies.

However,  he does not know their nature. At the same Guevara pointed out that despite the information on the investigation by the authorities of torture yet none of  them was not brought to  trial.-06B-