In Azerbaijan, Ombudswoman is concerned of hazing in army

Elmira Suleimanova, Ombudswoman in Azerbaijan, has expressed her concern about the facts of hazing ("dedovschina") and other facts of non-manual relations still encountered in the Azerbaijani armed forces.

The Ombudswoman has reported that complaints about hazing are arriving to her office from military units and soldiers' parents. Ms Suleimanova has emphasized that lately law enforcers take serious measures against such phenomena.

"The offenders are brought to the light and duly punished in accordance with the law," said the Ombudswoman.

Elmira Suleimanova has reported that she regularly visits military units, both in the frontline and in the rear, and gets interested in training and conditions of soldier. "One of these days, I visited the units of the Internal Troops. I got personally convinced that a lot is organized at a high level. Soldiers are properly trained. Neither soldiers nor their parents have any complaints on the provided conditions," Ms Suleimanova said.

The Ombudswoman has noted that her report to be presented to the Milli Medzhlis (local parliament) on March 10 will also deal with the situation in the army, as the APA Agency reports.

"Military units and prisons shall be under mandatory public control," the "Trend" Agency quotes the Ombudswoman as saying.