The Council of Europe’s “Committee Against Torture” visited Azerbaijan on 12-19 December, the PACE said on 3 January.
The main purpose of the visit was to investigate violations of the rights of persons deprived of liberty. The delegation held consultations with Justice Minister Fikret Mammadov and Deputy Interior Minister Fazil Guliyev, as well as with other heads of the above-mentioned ministries, police and the penitentiary service.
The delegation also met with First Deputy Prosecutor General Elchin Mammadov, Ombudsman Sabina Aliyeva and members of the national preventive group. Following the visit, the mission submitted its initial observations to the Azerbaijani authorities, the Committee said.
For his part, lawyer Fariz Namazli wrote on his Facebook page that in 2018 the Committee released a report following its six visits to Azerbaijan in 2004, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016 and 2017, including government responses.
“In these reports, the Committee concluded that tortures, all forms of ill-treatment by the police and other law enforcement agencies and the military, as well as corruption and impunity throughout the law enforcement system, were systematic, widespread and regular.
The inadequate investigation of complaints of police ill-treatment, lack of legal safeguards, including the provision of lawyers and doctors, the right to be informed of one’s detention and the right to receive information remain serious problems.