Azerbaijan completes preliminary investigation into beating of rights defender Nasibov

The Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic (NAR) of Azerbaijan has completed a preliminary investigation of the criminal case opened in connection with the beating of the rights defender Ilgar Nasibov. At the same time, the court completed the investigation of the counter claim against him. Both cases have been delivered to the court.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on August 21 in Nakhichevan a group of unidentified persons attacked the office of the Resource Centre for NGO and Democracy Development. During the attack, they severely beat Ilgar Nasibov, an employee of the Centre. His wife Malakhat Nasibova attributed the attack to her husband's human rights activities. The Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) of Azerbaijan reported a detention of a resident of Nakhichevan Farid Askerov on suspicion of beating Nasibov, and stated that Nasibov had suffered as a result of a domestic quarrel.

According to the police, it was Nasibov who inflicted injuries Askerov; therefore, the restrictive measure of placing under police surveillance was selected with regard to the rights defender.

Nasibov's wife reports that he has not yet fully recovered from his injuries.

Let us remind you that on August 29, with the assistance of representatives of international human rights organizations, Nasibov was taken for examination to Turkey, after which he returned to the NAR. The attack on Nasibov was condemned by the international human rights organization "Freedom House".