Today, 6 October, in the press center of the Institute for Reporters' Freedom and Safety a press conference was conducted again in connection with physical pressure that soldier Gurbanov Elton Naji oglu faces in military unit.
Recall that Elton Gurbanov, who was called up for military service from Astara region, was beaten by a sergeant of Military Unit #N in Khanlar region. As a result of the beating, he sustained injuries to his head and his sight deteriorated. Elton’s parents have already conducted one press conference in connection with physical pressure and beating he faced.
Gurbanov’s parents expressed concern that their son was reluctant to serve in the same military unit where he was beaten and said that there was an increased danger to his life. Director of the Azerbaijan Center of Democratic Citizen Surveillance for Armed Forces Alakbar Mammadov talked about the incident and stated that Gurbanov still faces harassment and threat. “Khanlar Region Military Unit #N Brigade Commander Giyas Mammadov threatened to send Gurbanov to Murovdag to continue his military service. Gurbanov is in Ganja city’s hospital at present,” Mammadov said.
Alakbar Mammadov, noting that criminal case opened in connection with this incident, said he sent telegrams to the President Ilham Aliyev, Military Prosecutor of the Republic Khanlar Valiyev and Defense Minister Safar Abiyev on this issue.
The press conference, related to a social problem, was held in the press center of the Institute for Reporters' Freedom and Safety, because the parents and the human rights defender could not find a different place to conduct a press conference. The parents and A.Mammadov appealed to “Novosti Azerbaijan” and “Caspian-Plaza” press center to conduct a press conference related to this issue. However, both of them refused them citing some excuses.