In Azerbaijan, Court dismisses complaint filed by oppositionist Bananyarly about her torture at police department

The Nasimi District Court has considered the complaint filed by Kyamala Bananyarly, an activist of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA), against the refusal of the Prosecutor's Office to institute criminal proceedings on her complaint about the fact that she had been subjected to torture at the police station. The Court has dismissed her complaint.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Kyamala Bananyarly was arrested after on May 6 she attended the protest action against the sentence to activists of the "Nida" movement. On May 8, Asabali Mustafaev, her advocate, visited her at the SIZO (pre-trial prison). The advocate has stated Kyamala Bananyarly had been tortured and abused at the Nasimi District Police Department.

Today, the Nasimi District Court has considered the complaint. "We have informed the Court that the investigator conducted only a formal investigation," the advocate has said.

According to the advocate, the activist has been removed from the today's court session. "When Kyamala Bananyarly expressed her protests against the fact that the investigator was describing untrue facts in his speech at the trial, the Judge removed my client from the courtroom and actually considered the case without her," Asabali Mustafaev has stated.

Finally, the Court has pronounced the decision to dismiss the complaint filed by Kyamala Bananyarly. "It turns out that the Prosecutor's Office has shielded the police, and the Court has shielded the Prosecutor's Office. We intend to lodge an appeal against the Court's decision, and, eventually, the case will be brought to the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR)," the advocate has stated.