National Preventive Group of the Ombudsman paid a visit to Sheki Penitentiary Institution

Under the instructions of the Ombudsman, Ms. Sabina Aliyeva, National Preventive Group (NPG) has undertaken a visit without prior notification to Sheki Penitentiary Institution.   

The objective of the visit, conducted under the OPCAT and Constitutional Law on Ombudsman, was to investigate the facts indicated in the incoming applications, the detention conditions, treatment issues and ensuring the rights of the detainees and the documentation. 

During the visit, the NPG members monitored Investigation Isolator of the Penitentiary Institution and interviewed many of the accused persons and convicts in private and assessed ensuring their rights, as well as detention condition and treatment issues in the facility. In the course of the visit, it was found that there was an overcrowding in the pre-trial detention facility and that the teenage inmate was held in the same cell together with the adult detainees in violation of the internal disciplinary rules. Furthermore, the bedding in cells were dirty and some were in useless condition.   

The received applications have been examined and each person was legally consulted and informed about the Ombudsman’s competences.  

At the end of the visit, the NPG members had a talk with the administration of the penitentiary institution and put forward recommendations for the elimination of the shortages and improving the detention conditions in conformity with national and international legal documents.