Azerbaijani activist Bairam Mamedov claims torture

On April 2, the Baku Court of Appeal (BCA) dismissed the complaint against the arrest of Bairam Mamedov. After his allegations of torture, the BCA obliged the Prosecutor's Office to investigate the activist's complaints. His defence doubts that an efficient investigation will be conducted.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Mamedov was detained in Baku on March 30, when he was walking along the street with his father. The young man was arrested for 30 days, after he was found guilty of disobeying the lawful demands of a policeman.

Mamedov told at the trial that the pressure on him began the following day after he was released from jail. According to his story, he was tortured after his arrest.

In his turn, Elchin Sadygov, an advocate, stated that Mamedov's arrest was unjustified. He insists that his client's rights were not ensured; Bairam was not allowed to invite a lawyer of his choice; and policemen themselves testified against him.

The advocate has added that now Mamedov can appeal to the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR).

Elshan Gasanov, the head of the Union "For the Freedom of Political Prisoners of Azerbaijan", has noted that complaints of torture in Azerbaijan are being investigated formally. In his opinion, usually, the Prosecutor's Office protracts investigating the complaints until the traces of torture become invisible.