HRHF calls for investigation into crash involving Azerbaijani Defender

Baku / 01.11.19 / Turan: The Human Rights House Foundation (HRHF) expressed deep concern about the health status of human rights activist Oktay Gulaliyev after he was injured in a car on October 29 and called on the Azerbaijani authorities to conduct a thorough, impartial and transparent investigation. 

A statement circulated on this occasion notes that, after several years of reprisals against Oktay and other human rights defenders, questions remain regarding the nature and cause of the October 29 incident.

According to media reports, in the evening of October 29, 2019, at the intersection of May 28 streets and Pushkin streets in Baku, a car crashed into Oktay as he walked along a pedestrian passage. Oktay was taken to a medical facility with serious injuries to the head and internal organs. His health remains critical according to reports from a medical facility in which Oktay receives assistance.

Oktay Gulaliyev is a former political prisoner in Azerbaijan. He was an active political activist as coordinator of the Public Alliance “Azerbaijan without Political Prisoners” and as head of the Azerbaijani Committee against Torture. Oktay tirelessly works to expose torture by the Azerbaijani authorities, fight corruption and ensure government transparency. For this work, Oktay suffered from years of repression by the Azerbaijani authorities, including arrests, imprisonment and ill-treatment during detention, the statement said.

HRHF’s thoughts and warm wishes go out to Oktay Gulaliyev and his family during this time.--0--