Court ignores Azerbaijani oppositionist Salaev’s complaint about torture in colony

A court dismissed a complaint filed by oppositionist Alizamin Salaev about torture in a penal colony. Alizamin Salaev, who went on a hunger strike in protest against torture, was beaten for refusing to participate in discrediting the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan, his colleague party member suggested.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that on August 6, the court refused in conditional early relief (CER) for Alizamin Salaev, a member of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA), and the defence filed an appeal against the court’s decision. On September 9, Alizamin Salaev was placed in a punishment cell after he had refused to sign a motion for pardon. On September 21, the activist told his son that he had been tortured in the penal colony and went on a hunger strike in protest.

Today, the Baku Court of Appeal (BCA) chaired by Judge Vagif Mursagulov has held a preliminary hearing on the complaint against the refusal in CER for Alizamin Salaev, the “Caucasian Knot” correspondent has been informed by Elchin Sadygov, an advocate of the convict.

“Alizamin Salaev said that on September 8, he was placed in the punishment cell after he had been offered to sign some documents with promises of early release from prison in exchange,” said Zafar Akhmedov, a member of the “Defence Line” public organization.

According to the human rights defender, Alizamin Salaev looked “very bad” today.

The torture of Alizamin Salaev “was initiated by the political authorities,” Seimur Khazi, a deputy chair of the PFPA, believes.