Relatives of the activist of "Public Chamber" movement arrested in Nakhichevan state that he has undergone torture

Zeinal Bagirzade, Head of regional branch of "Civil movement for democracy "Public Chamber" arrested in Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic experiences health problems. The activist's relatives and colleagues consider that he underwent torture. Regional authorities produce no comments on this statement.

Earlier, the "Caucasian Knot" reported that Head of regional branch of "Civil movement for democracy "Public Chamber" (СМDPC) Zeinal Bagirzade was arrested on December, 26, in Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic (NAR) for accusation of forging documents.

Deputy Chairman of "People's Front of Azerbaijan" party (PFAP) Asef Guliev residing in NAR told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that on December, 28, Bagirzade felt sick. He was taken away from the investigative isolation ward and delivered to Nakhichevan Diagnostic center. The physicians there were rendering aid to him for about three hours and then he was taken back to the investigative isolation ward.

During his stay in the medical center Bagirzade was allowed to see his brother and son for a short time. According to the relatives, Bagirzade looked very pale. "Zeinal Bagirzade had only time to inform that he had said to the people who interrogated him: "Just do not beet me on my head!", Guliev reported.

According to him, Bagirzade's relatives were not permitted to examine him. The physicians refused to provide official information on the prisoner's state of health. According to the members of the family, in spite of being second category disabled person, Bagirzade had never complained of health problems until the arrest.

"The purpose of physical pressure on Bagirzade is to make him acknowledge his guilt. In this case he is promised a light penalty without confinement", Deputy Chairman of PFAP said referring to Bagirzade's relatives.

It should be reminded that charges according to clauses 178.3.2 (fraud), 310 (misappropriation of authority of an official) and 320.2 (the use of forged documents) were brought against Bagirzade. In particular, he is incriminated forgery of documents in order to receive a pension of a disaster fighter at Chernobyl nuclear power plant. On December, 26, Nakhichevan city court selected preventive punishment for Bagirzade in form of a three-months' arrest.

Bagirzade denied the accusation however the attorney designated to him by the state refused to file an appeal promising that he would "settle the question himself", Guliev reported.

"After the relatives' persistent demand to file an appeal the lawyer refused to continue the defense while there are no independent lawyers in NAR", Deputy Chairman of PFAP Guliev said.

The relatives consider that the accusation is forged. According to them, Bagirzade is really a second category disabled person. During medical examination in 2008 his disability status as a disaster fighter at Chernobyl nuclear power plant was confirmed.

The fact that the investigation is conducted by Public prosecutor's office of NAR, not municipal Public prosecutor's office, testifies to political motivation of the case, the activist's relatives consider.

In spite of the fact that Bagirzade's arrest is covered widely in oppositional mass media as well as in foreign ones, the authorities of NAR provide no comments on the case.

Bagirzade himself declared that he was being persecuted for political reasons, in particular, because he headed the regional branch of СМDPC and his brother Yashar Bagirsoy was the leader of the department of "People's Front of Azerbaijan" party in NAR.

We will remind that Bagirsoy and Bagirzade were arrested after they took part in an action of protest on July, 27. After being kept in custody for two days they were released on bail upon the local residents' persistent demands. The brothers said that the policemen beat them up in the police department in order to get their confessionary statements.