Bekhbudov: in 2012 five persons died of torture in Azerbaijan

At least five persons died in Azerbaijan last year as a result of torture, Elchin Bekhbudov, the head of the Azerbaijani Committee against Torture, said today.

The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports that the annual report of the Committee against Torture was presented by Elchin Bekhbudov at the today's press conference in Baku.

"We build our reports on the complaints that we receive – from the victims, their relatives or lawyers. We don't use information from the media. In total, last year our committee received 141 complaints about torture and ill and inhuman treatment. However, in reality there were more facts of torture and inhuman treatment, since victims and their families are reluctant to file complaints for fear of even worse consequences for them," said Bekhbudov.

According to his story, although the number of deaths from torture decreased as compared to 2011, the total number of complaints went up. In 2011, the committee received 136 complaints, including nine deaths from torture. In 2010, there were 169 complaints, including 11 deaths from torture. Most complaints, as Mr Bekhbudov has noted, arrive from jails.

This year, out of five cases of death from torture, four were against the Penitentiary Service.

Mekhman Sadygov, the head of the Public Relations of the Penitentiary Service of Azerbaijan, called Bekhbudov's statements "an absolute lie."