Hearings on "Ganja Case", Talks about Torture

Baku / 30.03.19 / Turan: On March 30, the Center for the Protection of Political Prisoners organized a hearing on the "Ganja Case" at the headquarters of the Musavat Party. They talked about persons involved in criminal cases in connection with the attempt to assassinate the former head of Ganja Elmar Veliyev on July 3, 2018 and the protest action in this city on July 10.

As Zakir Garalov, the Prosecutor General of Azerbaijan, said on January 4, 2019, a planned terrorist act was carried out in Ganja on July 3 against the head of the city and a police officer.

In a criminal case initiated under Art. "Terrorism", "Attempt to overthrow the constitutional system", etc., 18 members of an organized criminal group were arrested. Eleven more people are wanted.

In addition, according to Garalov, 59 people were prosecuted in connection with the organization of riots "in defense of Yunis Safarov," who committed an attempt on the head of Ganja.

Four cases against 36 individuals were sent to the Ganja Grave Crimes Court. For others, the investigation continues.

On February 22, the court sentenced 11 people to various terms - from 7.5 to 9 years in prison. In respect of the rest, the trials continue.

However, according to the head of the Center for the Protection of Political Prisoners, Oktay Gulaliyev, according to the relatives of those arrested, the investigation was conducted with violations of the law, and the accused were subjected to sophisticated torture.

According to Gulaliyev, 10 people were killed in connection with the Ganja events. Of these, two are police officers. The rest were killed during the special operation of law enforcement.

77 people were arrested, and 11 people are wanted.

The human rights activist said that the purpose of the hearings is to provide the possibility for family members of the arrested to inform the public about reprisals against those prosecuted for the Ganja events.

The human rights activist Rovshan Ahmedli said the "Ganja case" was used for repression against believers.

In his opinion, "we must not cry and complain about repression," but fight together for the restoration of rights.

The wife of the arrested Elvin Nazarov Sabina Nazarova said that, despite the torture, her husband did not sign the indictment.

"From 11 to 20 July, Elvin was kept with his eyes closed. He was beaten with a baton on the heels. His shoulder was burned. He was put shackles on the last point. He was thrown to the floor, and a heavy man was sitting on him. His beard was pulled out, and electric current was passed into his body," Nazarova said.

The mother-in-law of the arrested Kamal Maharramov Aygun Zeynalova said that her son-in-law's mother could not stand the injustice against her son and died.

"My son-in-law was arrested when he left work. He was given 8 years and 6 months of imprisonment. He has three young children. He is not guilty of anything," Zeynalova said.

The brother of Umud Zalov, Jafar Zalov said that his relatives could not get any information about the arrested person for 7 months.

"My brother was detained on July 4 in the Ganja events. Umud lived in Baku, he was arrested here. His family is in serious condition. He has a disabled sister who lives with them. There is no one to look after her. If our rights are not protected in this country, then let them allow us to leave here," said J. Zalov.

According to Sevda Mehdiyeva, her son living in Moscow was detained in Ganja, when he arrived on leave.

"My son arrived in Ganja on July 3 in connection with the birth of his third child. He and his friends went out to have tea near the square, where they detained him. For several months we could not get any information about him. He was treated like a fascist. I ask Ilham Aliyev to consider this question. The investigator Orkhan Babayev is turning the people against Ilham Aliyev. The court was illegal. The lawyers were not given the floor. There are cameras at the scene. But the recordings from these cameras were not shown.

Witnesses from the police did not recognize anyone. My son was tortured with electric current and beaten on the heels. My son lost his health," Mehdiyeva said.

According to her, law enforcement officers at the trial mocked her. "They said: 'Go, call Allah, Imam Hussein, let them come, they will help you.' We were told that "you are doing namaz, so you are going against the state" ... Dear Ilham Aliyev, Mehriban Aliyeva, help and save our children," the woman continued.

Nizami Akperov's mother, Zoya Akperova, stated that her son confessed under torture. "Everyone says the order came from above. But no one is interested in who gave such an order. The materials of the case are written as if for a carbon copy; they all were written the same thing. Attorney at the appointment says he should not have signed them. And I say to him: 'If you had been tortured like this, would you have refused to sign those papers?' All those who prayed were arrested. Is namaz a crime? We want to justify our children," said Akperova.

The mother of Elvin Aliyev, Kamala Aliyeva, said her son lived in Russia and studied at the 4th year of university. "My son was born in Russia and studied there. Every summer he came on holidays. In court, he said that his mouth, hands, and feet were taped and beaten. He still has traces of handcuffs on his hands. My son was not at all at the rally, and he did not resist anyone. Everyone knows from whom they took a bribe and let them go. Among the arrested there are no sons of a single official. They were released for bribes," Aliyeva said.

By the video from Turkey, the participants of the press conference were joined by the spouse of a member of the Muslim Unity Movement, Anar Jabbarov, who was detained in Turkey and taken to Baku on 21 March. She said the family still does not know what Jabbarov, who was detained in Turkey on March 15, is accused of. He had all the documents in order, and he received a residence permit in Turkey, the wife of the arrested said.

"Anar was arrested for his public views and activities. He did not participate in rallies, and he did not say anything against the state. The help he gave to the families of the poor was gathered by the people here. Should a man be arrested for helping?", she said.

Valida Guliyeva, the mother of Elchin Gulev, who died during the investigation of the "Terter case" on state treason, spoke at the press conference.

"My son was arrested in Terter in 2017. His hands and eyes were tied up and he was tortured to death. All those arrested are the children of the poor. Our children were killed under torture. Return my son, return my 30-year-old labor. Why don't you answer me? I appealed to MPs, the State Security Service, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the Prosecutor General's Office. Now I am addressing the President: answer me, return my son," the woman said.

In the speeches, a refrain sounded about the need to jointly fight for the rights of those arrested and against arbitrariness, otherwise the repression would continue.

The authorities deny the facts of torture in places of detention and argue that the fundamental rights and freedoms of citizens are respected, and critics are considered biased. - 03C06--