12:37, 7 November 2021

Baku court rejects activist's complaint on torture

A Baku court has dismissed a complaint about torture lodged by Agil Gumbatov, an activist of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA). His defence intends to appeal against the dismissal.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on August 11, Agil Gumbatov, a PFPA member, was detained within the case of stabbing a resident of the dwelling settlement of Zira located near Baku. The court arrested Gumbatov for four months. He rejected his initial testimony, claiming that he had given it under torture.

The oppositionist faces 12 years in prison. Human rights defenders announced him to be a political prisoner.

According to Nemat Kerimli, his advocate, at the first meeting with him, Gumbatov complained about torture after detention. The advocate believes that the prosecutor's office has "formally" investigated his client's complaint.

"The court has failed to appoint an examination, although Gumbatov said that he still has severe pain in his rib; apparently, his rib was broken; and it has not yet healed," Me Kerimli has explained.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on November 6, 2021 at 05:12 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

Author: Faik Medjid

Source: CK correspondent