Mutallim Orudjev complains about custody conditions at Baku SIZO

Mutallim Orudjev, an activist of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA), who was arrested after his extradition from Germany, is kept in an overcrowded cell, where detainees lack beds, human rights defenders and his advocate have stated.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Mutallim Orudjev was detained on October 23, 2021, within the case of drug dealing. The court arrested him; at trial, Orudjev denied the accusations, stating that he gave confessions under torture.

Mutallim Orudjev has turned to the human rights NGO "Defence Line" with a complaint about the custody conditions at the SIZO (pre-trial prison), Zafar Akhmedov, an NGO member, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

"Orudjev is kept at SIZO-3 located in the dwelling settlement of Shuvelan. The cell, in which he is kept, is intended for eight inmates, but there are 14 of them there. They are forced to sleep in turns; and the beddings are not changed. Many of them smoke in the cramped cell; and there is thick smoke there all the time. Due to the fact that Orudjev has problems with his respiratory organs, his health condition is getting worse," Mr Akhmedov has stated.

The information about Orudjev's complaint about his custody conditions was confirmed by his Nemat Kerimli, his other advocate, who has noted that the day before he had turned to the SIZO's deputy boss asking him to place Orudjev into a cell with more or less acceptable custody conditions. If there is no result, the advocate intends to appeal to the bosses of the Penitentiary Service.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on August 2, 2022 at 07:17 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.