Human Rights Activists Urge Authorities to Stop Repression

Baku / 07.29.19 / Turan: In recent years, thousands of people have been convicted in Azerbaijan without any legal basis, and subjected to torture. At least 30 people have been tortured to death or shot dead. This is stated by the Committee against reprisals and torture of July 29.

The document contains specific deaths of people in police departments or places of detention. So, in May of this year, Galib Mammadov died in strange circumstances in the Sheki district police department.

In July, Aydin Gurbanov, who was subjected to sophisticated torture, died at the Medical Facility of the Prison Service. The accused in the "Ganja case" died.

The statement also reports on the persecution of people who received political asylum in Europe, but because of different circumstances returned or were turned to Azerbaijan. So, Natig Isbatov deported from the Netherlands was sentenced to 30 days of administrative arrest.

Azad Hasanov, who came from Lithuania to visit his father in October last year, was arrested on a false accusation of drug trafficking.

It also points to the case of journalist Polad Aslanov, who was arrested on trumped-up charges of treason.

"The prosecutor"s office, instead of investigating these iniquities, puts pressure on journalists, human rights defenders, public activists, and others," the statement said.

In conclusion, the Committee called on the authorities to stop repressions, the practice of illegal arrests and torture, to bring those responsible to justice, and to release political prisoners. -21D-