E.Sadygov: Investigator Reproached Activists for Graffiti on Monument to Heydar Aliyev

The lawyer Elchin Sadygov visited Bayram Mammadov and Giyas Ibrahimov, arrested on charges of drug trafficking after the appearance of graffiti on the monument to Heydar Aliyev, in Baku Detention Center No1.

As Sadygov told Turan, the young people were finally taken evidence separately by the investigator Asim Safaraliyev in the Baku City Prosecutor's Office in relation to their complaints of torture. This testimony was taken without a lawyer. Both young men later told the lawyer that the investigator recorded their evidence, changing their words. For example, instead of the word "forced" (by the police), he wrote, "were offered." Bayram Mammadov managed to cause the investigator to correct most of his testimony. Giyas Ibrahimov also objected, but the investigator recorded his testimony in brief.

Therefore Ibrahimov asked Sadygov to let all know that his real testimony is the one given to his lawyer, as well as employees of the Internal Affairs Investigations Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Both young men also reported that the Baku Prosecutor's Office investigator reproached them for graffiti on the monument by saying that "if you do not like it here, then leave the country," continued the lawyer.

Sadygov also said Mammadov and Ibrahimov were not given meetings with their relatives in jail. The young people were told that as long as their wounds were not healed, no meetings would be allowed. They still have visible traces of violence on their knees, feet and wrists, continued the lawyer. In addition, prison workers violate the young people's right to defense. Before every meeting with the lawyer they are searched. "We are also searched before meetings with Mammadov and Ibrahimov and after them. It can not be due to the security measures as we are checked with metal detectors at the entrance to the jail. Employees of the jail browse our records to be informed about the content of our conversations with the young people, which is contrary to law,"  said the lawyer.

The lawyer also said that on May 23, after a telephone conversation with his parents at their request, Mammadov stopped the hunger strike that began on May 19 in protest against the delay of the consideration of their complaints of torture.

The lawyer expressed doubt that the allegations of torture would be investigated objectively. -06B--