CoE Committee of Ministers demands the release of Ilgar Mamedov

On 11June the  Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe adopted a decision on the case "Ilgar Mamedov against Azerbaijan." Ilgar Mamedov was arrested on February 4, 2013 on charges of organizing riots in Ismayilli region of January of the same year.

He was convicted under Articles 220.1 (riots) and 315.2 (resistance to authority with violence), and was sentenced  on 17 March, 2014 to seven  years imprisonment.

On  22 May, 2014  the European Court of Human Rights found a violation of the rights of  Mamedov under the Articles 5.1 (right to liberty and security of person);  5.4 (right to a speedy judicial review of the lawfulness of detention, if it is not lawful); 6.2 ( the right to the presumption of innocence), and 18 (limits the use of restrictions on rights.)

The ECHR ordered the government of Azerbaijan to pay Mamedov  22,000 Euro compensation.

The Committee of Ministers strongly reminded the Government of Azerbaijan  the recognition of by the European Court  the violations of legal procedures in this case, and especially Articles 5 and 18 of the European Convention.

The Committee of Ministers urges Baku to eliminate the consequences of the violation of his rights and to release him immediately. The decision of the Committee of Ministers stated that the Azerbaijani authorities failed to release Mamedov,  and did not inform of any progress in this case.

Therefore, a serious concern was expressed about the delay in the consideration of the appeal of Mamedov  before the Supreme Court.

The Committee of Ministers notes the importance of informing  measures to prevent violations by judges of legal requirements and the observance of the presumption of innocence.

The Committee of Ministers intends to return to this issue in September 2015 if by that time the applicant is not released, the Committee will bring to the discussion taking serious measures against Azerbaijan. -03D-