Azerbaijan: Ongoing judicial proceedings against Mr. Eldar Salayev

Case AZE 031105.3 - Follow up to Cases AZE 031105, AZE 031105.1 and AZE 0301105.2

Judicial proceedings

Geneva, 26 May 2006

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

New Information

The International Secretariat of OMCT has been informed by the Human Rights Centre of Azerbaijan, a member of the OMCT network, that Mr. Eldar Salayev, 73 years old, professor and full member of the Academy of Science of Azerbaijan, has been authorised to travel abroad for medical treatment, despite he is still under investigation. According to the Prosecutor General, this authorisation was granted following appeals to the President.

However, according to information received, charges against Mr. Eldar Salayev are still pending.

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, of the release of Mr. Eldar Salayev, arrested on 27th October 2005 and accused of preparing the return of Mr. Rasul Quliyev to Azerbaijan. Mr. Salayev’s release followed 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.

Mr. Rasul Quliyev, leader of the Democratic Party of Azerbaijan, has been accused of embezzlement, charges which seem to be politically motivated. Mr. Quliyev 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).

OMCT was gravely concerned by the fact that Mr. Salayev was 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
  
  
• Minister of Internal Affairs of the Azerbaijani Republic, Lt.-Gen. Ramil Usubov, Fax: + 994 12 492 45 90
  
  
• S.E. l’AmbassadeurH.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
  
  
• Minister of Justice in Azerbaijan, Mr. Fikret Mamedov, Prospekt Stroitelej, 1 Baku Azerbaijan, e-mail: contact@justice.gov.az, Tel (99412) 430 01 16, Fax (99412) 430 09 81
  
  
• Azerbaijani Embassy in Brussels, Mr. Mamedov, Avenue Moliere, 464, 1050 Brussels, Belgium, Tel: +32 2 345 26 60, Fax: +32 2 345 91 85

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

Geneva, 26 May 2006.

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