Azerbaijan
09.02.04
Urgent Interventions
Azerbaijan: release of remaining Nardaran detainees
Case AZE 060602.12
Follow-up of Case AZE 060602
Release
Geneva, February 9th, 2004
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 Center of Azerbaijan, a member of the OMCT network, of the
reduced sentences and release of the three remaining individuals
detained in connection with events in Nardaran, which has been the
scene of repression of demonstrations, including a killing, and
numerous arrests and detentions since June 3rd, 2002.
The released individuals include Aliyev Alikram Ismayil oglu, Alizade
Djebrayil and Atakishiyev Hafiz Hasan oglu. On November 14th, 2003,
the Supreme Court changed the first two persons' sentences to 4 years
of suspended imprisonment, and they were released from the court
hall. On April 1st, they had been sentenced to 9 and 8 years of
detention respectively. On June 6th, 2003, the Court of Appeals had
changed their sentenced to 6 years of imprisonment. The other
remaining detainee, Atakishiyev Hafiz Hasan oglu, was reportedly
released at around the same time, having been sentenced to 5 years
imprisonment, although further information as to his condition
remains unavailable.
The International Secretariat of OMCT wishes to thank all individuals
and institutions who intervened concerning this case.
Brief reminder of the situation
According to the information received, on June 3rd, 2002, the
Azerbaijani police arbitrarily arrested and shot various
demonstrators in Nardaran, killing one and wounding several others.
The International Secretariat of OMCT continues to call for an
investigation into the death of the Nardaran villager. These events
occurred against a background of ongoing civil unrest in Nardaran
since members of the police and the Ministry of Internal affairs
(MIA) arbitrarily arrested persons who had participated in an earlier
demonstration on May 7th. The trials of 15 persons that were arrested
in connection with these events have led to further demonstrating in
Nardaran (see previous appeals for more information concerning these
situations). Many persons have engaged in demonstrations in
Nardaran's central square. Subsequently, on February 5th, 2003, at
4:15 in the morning, five busloads of police officers staged an
operation in Nardaran in order to arrest persons responsible for
organizing or participating in demonstrations against the
authorities.
The authorities were reportedly aiming to arrest Mr.Yakhshibeyov
Hamid Ibrahim oglu who was on a wanted list for not voluntarily
turning himself in to be tried as part of the
afore-mentioned trials. Claiming that they had found weapons on some
of the demonstrators, the police then reportedly opened fire on them,
resulting in injuries to 17
people. Eight people were also arrested and were either being
administratively detained having been charged with resisting the
police or detained on criminal charges of
possession of weapons (the police claimed to have seized 2 pistols
and 7 hand grenades during the operation). The trial of the persons
arrested in relation with the initial
events on June 3rd, 2002, has reportedly been marred by procedural
irregularities and finished on April 01, 2003 with imprisonment
sentences for 15 defendants. Later, as a result of active mediation
by the Moslem clergy, the majority of detainees received suspended
sentences and were released.
As of June 11th, 2003, the International Secretariat of OMCT was
informed that the Court of Appeal had changed the sentences of three
individuals still being detained in connection with the demonstration
in Nardaran, Azerbaijan, on February 5, 2003.
Geneva, February 9th, 2004
Follow-up of Case AZE 060602
Release
Geneva, February 9th, 2004
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 Center of Azerbaijan, a member of the OMCT network, of the
reduced sentences and release of the three remaining individuals
detained in connection with events in Nardaran, which has been the
scene of repression of demonstrations, including a killing, and
numerous arrests and detentions since June 3rd, 2002.
The released individuals include Aliyev Alikram Ismayil oglu, Alizade
Djebrayil and Atakishiyev Hafiz Hasan oglu. On November 14th, 2003,
the Supreme Court changed the first two persons' sentences to 4 years
of suspended imprisonment, and they were released from the court
hall. On April 1st, they had been sentenced to 9 and 8 years of
detention respectively. On June 6th, 2003, the Court of Appeals had
changed their sentenced to 6 years of imprisonment. The other
remaining detainee, Atakishiyev Hafiz Hasan oglu, was reportedly
released at around the same time, having been sentenced to 5 years
imprisonment, although further information as to his condition
remains unavailable.
The International Secretariat of OMCT wishes to thank all individuals
and institutions who intervened concerning this case.
Brief reminder of the situation
According to the information received, on June 3rd, 2002, the
Azerbaijani police arbitrarily arrested and shot various
demonstrators in Nardaran, killing one and wounding several others.
The International Secretariat of OMCT continues to call for an
investigation into the death of the Nardaran villager. These events
occurred against a background of ongoing civil unrest in Nardaran
since members of the police and the Ministry of Internal affairs
(MIA) arbitrarily arrested persons who had participated in an earlier
demonstration on May 7th. The trials of 15 persons that were arrested
in connection with these events have led to further demonstrating in
Nardaran (see previous appeals for more information concerning these
situations). Many persons have engaged in demonstrations in
Nardaran's central square. Subsequently, on February 5th, 2003, at
4:15 in the morning, five busloads of police officers staged an
operation in Nardaran in order to arrest persons responsible for
organizing or participating in demonstrations against the
authorities.
The authorities were reportedly aiming to arrest Mr.Yakhshibeyov
Hamid Ibrahim oglu who was on a wanted list for not voluntarily
turning himself in to be tried as part of the
afore-mentioned trials. Claiming that they had found weapons on some
of the demonstrators, the police then reportedly opened fire on them,
resulting in injuries to 17
people. Eight people were also arrested and were either being
administratively detained having been charged with resisting the
police or detained on criminal charges of
possession of weapons (the police claimed to have seized 2 pistols
and 7 hand grenades during the operation). The trial of the persons
arrested in relation with the initial
events on June 3rd, 2002, has reportedly been marred by procedural
irregularities and finished on April 01, 2003 with imprisonment
sentences for 15 defendants. Later, as a result of active mediation
by the Moslem clergy, the majority of detainees received suspended
sentences and were released.
As of June 11th, 2003, the International Secretariat of OMCT was
informed that the Court of Appeal had changed the sentences of three
individuals still being detained in connection with the demonstration
in Nardaran, Azerbaijan, on February 5, 2003.
Geneva, February 9th, 2004