NCDF Condemns Attack on Ilgar Mamedov in Prison

The National Council of Democratic Forces (NCDF) of Azerbaijan strongly condemned the beating of the REAL Movement leader Ilgar Mamedov in Prison No 2 on October 16, with participation of the prison management.

Recently, there have been more cases of beatings of inmates in penitentiaries, the statement said. A prisoner of Jail No 14 Elshan Babayev was beaten to death by the staff of the institution in December 2014, the document says.

In the Kurdakhani jail, the human rights activist Leyla Yunus has repeatedly been abused. There have also been reports of threats and physical pressure on Ilgar Mamedov. And now the fact of his beating in the office of the prison chief Eyvaz Askerov has been confirmed.

NCDF recalls that beating, insult and humiliation of prisoners is a flagrant violation of the Constitution of Azerbaijan and the requirements of international conventions.

Participation of officials in such crimes is a crime, NCDF said.

The prison administration could not commit such actions without permission from their bosses.

Instead of executing the decision of the European Court of Human Rights for his release, acts of violence are committed against Mamedov, who was arrested for political reasons. He is exposed to violence by officials.

NCDF demanded to punish those responsible and ensure the safety of Mamedov and implement the ECHR decision on his release. -06D--