ECtHR awards compensation of 96,000 euros to four Azerbaijani activists

On June 7, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) published on its website a decision concerning the complaints filed by Rashad Gasanov, Zaur Gurbanly, Uzeir Mamedli, and Rashadat Akhundov, former members of the board of the civil movement "Nida".

The ECtHR found that in 2013, the pre-trial restriction measure in the form of arrest was illegally used against the complainants.

The ECtHR found a violation of Article 5.1 (the right to liberty and security of person) of the European Convention on Human Rights and Freedoms and recognized that the activists had been taken into custody without reliable evidence. The ECtHR also found a violation of rights under Article 18 (limitation on use of restrictions on rights) of the European Convention on Human Rights and Freedoms. In particular, in its decision, the ECtHR points to the political goals for the arrests of the activists who participated in a number of protest actions and were arrested after one of such actions.

"The ECtHR has examined the facts and circumstances of the case and found out that the detentions and arrests of the complainants pursued the aim of concealing and punishing them for their active participation in the movement 'Nida'," the European Court of Human Rights emphasizes in its decision.

The ECtHR obliged Azerbaijan to pay compensation of 20,000 euros for moral damage to each complainant. Rashad Gasanov and Uzeir Mamedli are to receive 5000 euros each for reimbursement of court costs, while Zaur Gurbanly and Rashadat Akhundov 3000 euros each.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.