Death of Mr. Belek Arziev allegedly due to severe beating and risk of impunity

The International Secretariat of the World Organization Against Torture (OMCT) requests your URGENT intervention in the following situation in Kyrgyzstan.

Brief description of the situation

The International Secretariat of OMCT has been informed by the Kyrgyz Committee for Human Rights (KCHR), a member of the SOS-Torture network, about the death of Mr. Belek Arziev allegedly due to severe beating.

According to the information received, Mr. Belek Arziev, 83 years old, resident of Osh city, was allegedly arrested and beaten to death by four policemen of the Department of Internal Affairs of Osh city, namely Sergeant A. Maksutov, Sergeant T. Nurkulov, Sergeant B. Orozov and Sergeant T. Kadyrov on 27 June 2007.

Mr. Belek Arziev was reportedly accused of not carrying identification papers with him. The policemen allegedly tried to bribe him in exchange of not arresting him. When Mr. Arziev reportedly refused to pay, the four policemen started to beat him on the head and the chest. They also reportedly seized him 50’000 Kyrgyz soms.

According to the information, Mr. Belek Arziev’s corpse was found on 28 June 2007 in the A. Navoi Park in Osh city. A judicial medical examination was reportedly conducted and revealed brain contusion, fractures and traumas. However no information is available as to any on-going investigation on the case.

The International Secretariat of OMCT expresses its deep concern over the circumstances of the death of Mr. Belek Arziev, particularly with regard to the alleged beatings, and the risk of impunity. OMCT recalls to Kyrgyzstan that according to articles 7 and 9 1) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) to which it is a State party, no one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and no one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest or detention. OMCT calls on the authorities to order a thorough and impartial investigation into the circumstances of the death of Mr. Belek Arziev, in order to identify those responsible, bring them to trial and apply the penal and/or administrative sanctions as provided by law.

Action requested

Please write to the authorities in Kyrgyzstan urging them to:

1. Order a thorough and impartial investigation into the circumstances of the death of Mr. Belek Arziev, in order to identify those responsible, bring them to trial and apply the penal and/or administrative sanctions as provided by law;
2. Guarantee that adequate compensation is awarded to the victim’s family;
3. Ensure respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms throughout the country in accordance with national laws and international human rights standards.

Addresses

• Mr. Bakiev Kurmanbek Salievich, President of Kyrgyz Republic, Kyrgyzskaya Respublika, 720003. Bishkek, Prospekt Chuy, 205, Fax: 996312218627, ghpress2@rhl.bishkek.su
• Mr. Atamabev Almazbek Sharshenovich, Prime Minister, Fax: 996312218627
• Mr. Bolotbek Nogoybaev, Minister of Internal Affairs, Fax: 996312663031, 996312288788
• Mr. Marat Kaipov, Minister of Justice, Fax: 996312663044 / 996312656502
• Mr. Elmurza Satybaldiev, Public Prosecutor of the Kyrgyz of Republic, Fax: 996312665411
• Permanent mission of Kyrgyzstan, Rue Maunoir 26, 1207 Geneva, Switzerland, Email: kyrgyzmission@bluewin.ch, Fax: +41 22 707.92.21

Please also write to the embassies of Kyrgyzstan in your respective country.

*******

Geneva, 17 July 2007.

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