Salyan activist reports police pressure (UPDATED)

Arrested yesterday in Salyan, a member of NGO Promotion of Democracy Tofig Gasimov on the same day was sent to the Kurdakhani jail in Baku.

Today he informed his relatives that in prison he was put pressure, which is why he was forced to slander the head of the NGO Promotion of Democracy Emil Mammadov. He also asked them to find an independent lawyer for him. Turan was reported by Gasimov's family.

Recall that Gasimov was arrested on April 4 and given 10 days of administrative arrest after which he was charged with a criminal offense of extortion.

Local activists believe that there was a provocation against Mammadov and Gasimov and they are subjected to harassment and pressure due to their human rights activities. -06B –

2014 April 18 (Friday) 12:07:07

Baku/18.04.14/Turan : A member of Salyan NGO "Promotion of Democracy" Tofig  Gasimov was arrested for two months, 65 hours after the arrest , instead of the required 48 hours. Turan was told by the head of the NGO "Promotion of Democracy" Emil Mammadov .

Recall that Gasimov was arrested for 10 days on charges of disorderly conduct on April 4. Despite the expiration of his arrest on April 14 , he was released , and was detained as a suspect in extortion. Such a person can be held in custody without a court order not more than 48 hours .

Morning of April 17 was held confrontation between Gasimov and Mammadov , during which he slandered the head of the NGO. And only after that (about 12.00) , he was arrested .

Mammadov believes , Gasimov was deceived: he was promised to release if he slanders the head of the NGO.

At the same time , Gasimov's rights were violated because he without legal justification was detained for more than 17 hours.

Recall that on April 15, Gasimov refused the services of an independent counsel Alaifa Hasanov, saying he does not need a lawyer . However, on April 17 at the confrontation with Mammadov , he confessed to extorting money from the managers of district institutions, saying he did it at the direction of the head of the NGO . Thus, Gasimov received a state lawyer.

* NGOs Promoting Democracy is one of the most active civil society institutions in the southern region. Its head Mammadov repeatedly publicized cases of corruption in the structures of the district authorities, as well as defended the civil rights of local residents . This NGO was involved in several projects of web civilian control in the mining industry .

All this caused severe irritation to the authorities, who started a campaign against the activist, accusing them of anti-state activities .

* Emil Mammadov is known as an intelligent and moral man. Through his activities was an agreement between the administration of an iodine plant with the local community in Neftchala, in environmental protection between the oil production in Salyan and the local community on the development of local infrastructure and environment, and were protected rights of the local oil industry workers and staff during the construction of the Baku- Alat highway. Thanks to Mammadov, ancient burial jars were saved from destruction by the builders of the Baku- Alat highway and an expedition of the National Academy of Sciences was formed. Emil Mammadov played an important role in eliminating the consequences of the 2010 floods in Salyan . Through organized interaction with the executive he was able to solve quite a number of problems, including receiving compensation , housing, safe functioning of the Kura river bed, etc. -06B-