Lawyer Urges Ombudsman to Intervene to Protect Blogger's Rights

Baku / 18.12.17 / Turan: The lawyer of the blogger Namig Sadigli, Asabali Mustafayev appealed to the Ombudsman of Azerbaijan with a request to ensure the investigation of the appeal of his client who is serving an administrative arrest for 30 days.

The activist of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA), video blogger Namig Sadigli was detained on November 30. On December 1, by a court decision, he was arrested for 30 days under Article 535.1 of the Administrative Code of Azerbaijan (non-compliance with the lawful requirements of a police representative).

The investigation of the appeal against Sadigli's arrest is being illegally delayed, the lawyer Asabali Mustafayev told Turan. He noted that 12 days passed since the appeal was filed. According to the law, the complaint was to be considered within two days. "But until now the appeal has not been considered and it is not known when the court session will be held," Mustafayev said.

Mustafayev sent an official appeal to the Ombudsman of Azerbaijan on December 18 with a request to intervene. "We asked the Ombudsman to assist in ensuring the consideration of the appeal against Sadigli's arrest and the elimination of health problems that have arisen at him in prison," Mustafayev said.

He noted that since December 9, Namig Sadigli's health deteriorated, he was called an ambulance four times and hospitalized for a day in the city clinical center.

Despite the doctors' recommendations to leave the patient in the clinic, the police officers took him back.

PFPA reported that Sadigli was active in social networks on the Internet and published videos containing criticism of the Azerbaijani authorities. -06D--