Azerbaijani oppositionist Salaev needs surgery because of beating by law enforcers, his son reports

After the information about torture of Alizamin Salaev at a police station had been made public, the Azerbaijani activist was visited by staff members of the Ombudsman's Office. A son of the activist reports that Alizamin Salaev got his internal organs damaged and he needs surgery.

On January 13, Alizamin Salaev was arrested for 30 days after disseminating on social networks a video criticizing a policeman. Ali Kerimli, the leader of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA), and the son of Alizamin Salaev said that the activist was tortured after his detention. According to the police, Alizamin Salaev was detained for violation of public order in a state of alcoholic intoxication and failure to obey lawful demands of policemen.

On January 24, for the first time after the detention of Alizamin Salaev, law enforcers let him being visited by a family member, his son Ogtai Salaev.

The National Council of Democratic Forces (NCDF) condemned the use of torture by the police. "What happened to Alizamin Salaev is another state crime," the NCDF declared in its statement.

"Several times a year, Azerbaijani society gets reports about cases of cruel torture and sometimes even about cases of deaths from torture," the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was told by Jamil Hasanli, the leader of the NCDF.