Azerbaijan - arbitrary arrest and detention of Mr. Eldar Salayev

Case AZE 031105

Arbitrary arrest and detention
The International Secretariat of OMCT requests your URGENT intervention in the following situation in Azerbaijan.

Brief Description of the Situation

The International Secretariat of OMCT has been informed by the Human Rights Centre of Azerbaijan, a member of the OMCT network, of the arrest of Mr. Eldar Salayev, 72 years old, professor and full member of the Academy of Science of the Azerbaijan Republic, on October 27th 2005.

According to the information received, he was held in isolation at the Ministry of National Security of the Azerbaijan Republic. The reason for Mr, Salayev’s arrest is unclear. However, he has openly criticized the policy of the ruling party in Azerbaijan, on the eve of elections.

The International Secretariat of OMCT is gravely concerned for the physical and psychological integrity of Mr. Salayev who is blind in one eye and partially blind in the second, and who was reportedly interrogated for nearly 12 hours on October 27th.

Action requested:

Please write to the authorities in Azerbaijan urging them to:
i. Take all necessary measures to guarantee the physical and psychological integrity of Mr. Mr. Eldar Salayev;
ii. Order the immediate release of Mr. Eldar Salayev in the absence of valid legal charges, and if such charges exist, to ensure that he is given a prompt and fair trial, in which his procedural rights are guaranteed at all times;
iii. Guarantee the respect of human rights and the fundamental freedoms throughout the country in accordance with international human rights standards.

Addresses:

• Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Office of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, 19 Istiqlaliyyat St., Baku AZ1066, Azerbaijan, Fax: +994 12 492 06 25, +994 412 92 28 68, E-mail: office@apparat.gov.az, president@gov.az, root@lider.baku.az
  
  
• Prosecutor’s Office, 7 Nigar Rafibeyli St., Baku, Azerbaijan, Fax: +994 12 492 06 82, +994 12 492 26 63, E-mail: prosec@azeri.com
  
  
• Lt.-Gen. Ramil Usubov, Minister of Internal Affairs of the Azerbaijani Republic, Fax: + 994 12 492 45 90
  
  
• Mr. Fikret Mamedov, Minister of Justice in Azerbaijan, Prospekt Stroitelej, 1 Baku Azerbaijan, e-mail: contact@justice.gov.az, Tel (99412) 430 01 16, Fax (99412) 430 09 81
  
  
• H.E. Ambassador, Mr. Elchin Amirbayov, Rue de Lausanne 67, CH-1202, Genève, Suisse, e-mail : az.mission.unog@iprolink.ch, fax: +4122 901 18 44

Please also write to the embassy of Azerbaijan in your respective country.

Geneva, 3rd November 2005.

Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this appeal in your reply.