Today, lawyer Nemat Karimli met with NIDA Civic Movement member Elgiz Gahramanov at Baku Detention Facility. According to Karimli, Gahramanov told him that he had been tortured at the Main Organised Crime Department and forced to admit to the drug charges and being friends with Fetullah Gulen.
“Elgiz said he had been tortured at the Main Organised Crime Department. But there is no trace of torture left. They tortured him and demanded that he admit to the drug charges and say that he is friends with Fetullah Gulen. As he refused to comply, they used physical force against him. As a result of the torture, Gahramanov agreed to admit the charges and signed the document. Today, Elgiz Gahramanov recanted his testimony provided at the Main Organised Crime Department (MOCD). Gahramanov has sent an appeal to the Prosecutor General’s Office with regard to the torture inflicted on him. Gahramanov said he had been questioned about youth organizations. Elgiz also said that a police officer by name Shahlar had manifestly put drugs into his pocket at the anti-gang unit (MOCD) and then took them out of his pocket and charged him,” Nemat Karimli said.
The lawyer added that members of the International Committee of the Red Cross also met with the youth today. They were interested in the facts of torture.
Lawyer Nemat Karimli said he was illegally subjected to personal search before the meeting with his client at Baku Detention Facility. According to him, a person by name Maj. Ahmad tried to take his printed motions by force and tear them, which led to a quarrel.