Azerbaijan: Mr. Eldar Salayev released

Case AZE 031105.2

Follow up to Cases AZE 031105.1 and AZE 031105.1
Release

Geneva, 17th November 2005

The International Secretariat of OMCT has received new information regarding the following situation in Azerbaijan.

New Information

The International Secretariat of OMCT was informed by the Human Rights Centre of Azerbaijan, a member of the OMCT network, Mr. Eldar Salayev, 72 years old, professor and full member of the Acadamey of Science of Azerbaijan, arrested on 27th October 2005, has been released. However, the conditions of his release are unclear and it is not known if the charges against him have been dropped.

Mr. Salayev’s release follows a visit by the Ombudsman Mrs. Elmira Suleymanova, who asked the Prosecutor General to lift the arrest of Mr. Eldar Salayev,. Furthermore, she visited Mr. Salayev and other detainees on November 12th 2005.

Brief Reminder of the Situation

The International Secretariat of OMCT was informed by the Human Rights Centre of Azerbaijan, a member of the OMCT network, that Mr. Eldar Salayev, 72 years old, professor and full member of the Acadamey of Science of Azerbaijan, arrested on 27th October 2005, has been accused of preparing the return of Mr. Rasul Guliyev to Azerbaijan.

Mr. Rasul Guliyev, leader of the Democratic Party of Azerbaijan, has been accused of embezzlement, charges which seem to be politically motivated. Mr. Guliyev has been living in the United States for several years and declared that he would return to Azerbaijan to run in the presidential elections. The prosecutor-general had said that he would be immediately arrested and jailed if he returned to Azerbaijan. (see related Case AZE 081105)

A member of the Human Rights Centre in Azerbaijan was able to visit Mr. Salayev, who appeared to be in good health, apart from his eyes, and that his cell was ok.

However, OMCT was gravely concerned by the fact that Mr. Salayev is being held in the prison of the Ministry of National Security which the United Nations Committee against Torture recommended be closed or transferred to the authority of the Ministry of Justice, in 2003.

Remarks

The International Secretariat of OMCT wishes to thank the individuals and institutions who intervened on behalf of Mr. Salayev but urges you to continue to write to the authorities in Azerbaijan until all charges against Mr. Salayev are dropped.

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. Ensure that any remaining politically motivated charges against Mr. Eldar Salalyev are dropped without further delay;
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, 17th November 2005.

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