Ilgar Mamedov, leader of "ReAl", placed in dungeon in Azerbaijan

On May 30, Ilgar Mamedov, the leader of the civil movement "Republican Alternative" ("ReAl"), who is kept at the SIZO (pre-trial prison), was placed into a dungeon, said advocate Khalid Bagirov. According to his story, the defence was not informed about it.

"Today, I was at the SIZO and wanted to meet Ilgar Mamedov. It turned out that after our meeting yesterday he was put into the dungeon (punishment cell)," the lawyer told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

According to Khalid Bagirov, after his departure Ilgar Mamedov remained alone in the cell, but a few hours later another prisoner was put there. Mamedov "refused to be in a cell with another person for fear of provocations from a cellmate, as he had already encountered such situation."

"Ilgar Mamedov was told, either he would stay with another inmate, or, if not, he would be placed into the dungeon," said the lawyer.

According to Bagirov, Mamedov's transfer to the dungeon was documented as a "breach of discipline". The advocate could not learn at the SIZO about the term for his client's placing there.

By the law, a person who is under inquiry can be kept in a dungeon for up to one month. But, as Bagirov noted, Mamedov had every right to stay in the solitary confinement for security reasons; this is in line with the European Prison Rules.

He said that the defence would appeal against Mamedov's transfer into the dungeon, as soon as they get a written decision on placing the "ReAl" leader there.

In the advocate's opinion, in reality, Mamedov committed no disciplinary violations - he just objected to putting another person into his cell for security reasons.