Human rights activists demand to reform the penitentiary system

The Center for Monitoring Political Prisoners issued a report about the conditions of detention and treatment of prisoners in prisons. The report is based on the stories of former "prisoners of conscience" and press materials. Detention conditions are now worse than in Soviet times. Statutory rights are not respected. On the one hand, the legislation is in line with European standards, and  on the other hand "torture room", so-called "press-hut" are created for prisoners, the report said.

In addition, the report addresses the issue of persecution of citizens for political reasons, and the country has at least 86 political prisoners. Further, the report also focused on the specific facts of inhuman treatment. In particular, the widespread practice of so-called "carotene barracks" where the new inmate

in front of others  is stripped naked, insulted, beaten with batons.

In these barracks, designed for 20-30 people  are kept 60-70 prisoners. During the period of "quarantine" a meeting with relatives, telephone calls is possible for a bribe. Buildings  of jails were built in the Stalin era.  In each hut  are kept 350-500 people. Carriers of infectious diseases include the same room with the others.  There is no ventilation systems, reigns unsanitary conditions, not enough toilets, in the barracks.

Seriously ill are not  provided with  additional food. Some jails are located near quarries, and prisoners breathe dust-laden air, there is not enough drinking water.

To drink tea, use the bath, it is necessary to get drugs to pay bribes. Prisoners  are not given the opposition newspapers, and those who report  about the outrages  are severely punished.

In 2012,  in the jail N17 was killed a convicted Parviz Mikayilov. Political prisoner Nemat Panahli conveyed this information, and for this he was put in solitary confinement for 20 days and then transferred to a closed jail.

In the jail N 15 died Sadulla Gafarov, but the causes have not been investigated. The report contains other facts of deaths and killings of prisoners. It is alleged the existence of special torture wards in Baku detention center N1 and repeated torture of human rights defender Leyla Yunus.

The physical pressure is applied to the leader of the REAL Movement Ilgar Mamedov, contrary to the decision of the ECHR for his release.

In jail N12 last year died of beating the convicted Elshad Babayev, which caused protest of other prisoners, but special forces were used against them. Up to 40 prisoners were transferred to the worst conditions.

The most dangerous  for prisoners is the  Gobustan prison. The other dangerous jails  in Baku  are: detention center N 1; jail N 4 (female), jails  12,13 and 14;  relatively safe  jails are  NN 1, 2, 5, 6, 10 and 16.

 The authors are calling for radical reforms in the penitentiary system, a change of leadership, the investigation of torture, punishment of the masterminds and perpetrators.

It is also proposed to investigate the facts of bribery and corruption among the staff, and comply with the standards of the European Prison Rules.