Employees of Azerbaijani Ombudsman's office register traumas in arrested oppositionist

Employees of the office of the Azerbaijani Ombudsman have confirmed traces of bodily injuries in oppositionist Rovshan Nasirli, who was arrested on June 19 for his participation in the protest action of the oppositional block "Azadlyg" (Freedom).

Employees of the office visited the administrative detainees at the custody of the Baku police late at night on June 19.

"The visit had to do with the appeal to the hotline of human rights activist Emin Guseinov who said that Rovshan Nasirli was beaten after detention in the 8th police branch of the Sabail District Division," runs the statement of the Ombudsman's office that has arrived to the "Caucasian Knot".

Representatives of the office had a talk with Mr Nasirli, who was arrested for 15 days. When they examined his body, they detected and fixed "traces of various physical injuries" in his face.

They also met the other four detainees for participation in the oppositional action. "However, they did not complain of any violent actions against them," the statement runs.

In the context of traces of beatings detected in Nasirli, Ombudsman Elmira Suleimanova has addressed the General Public Prosecutor of Azerbaijan "with a demand of full and comprehensive investigation of the fact, and if it is confirmed, to take respective measures, make forensic-medical examinations and punish those guilty."

On Monday, June 21, Elchin Bekhbudov, head of the Committee against Torture, also visited the detainees for participation in the "Azadlyg" rally. He told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that out of five detainees only two - Reshadat Akhundov and Rovshan Nasirli - complained of beating at the 8th branch of the Sabail District Police Division.

Mr Bekhbudov noted that in the context of detainees' complaints he addressed the boss of Baku police Rafik Abbasov with a demand to hold an investigation.

The fact of beating of the detainees is confirmed also by other persons detained on June 19 for participation in the action.

However, the Baku police deny the fact of Nasirli's beating at the 8th branch of the Sabail District Police. Galib Ragimov, press secretary of Central Police Administration of Baku, has refuted, in his comments to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent, that Nasirli was beaten at the police branch.