NPG members continue monitoring to evaluate the situation with preventive measures and sanitary and hygiene rules to prevent spread the COVID-19

At the request of the Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Sabina Aliyeva, the members of the National Preventive Group (NPG), also the NPG staff from the Ombudsman's Ganja and Sheki regional centers carried out ad-hoc visits to Baku Pre-Trial Detention Facility, Penitentiary Facilities #10 and 17, Pre-Trial Detention Facility #2 and Sheki Penitentiary facility of the Penitentiary Service of the Ministry of Justice and Detention Center for Administratively Arrested Persons.  

In the course of the monitoring conducted with participation of a physician member of the NPG, this was observed that the medical staff member checked the body temperature of the persons bringing to the facility at the entrance, the persons also can clean their hands with special disinfectant solution, convicted and detained persons are provided daily with necessary information, and the persons are undergoing medical examination. At the same time, it was revealed that according to the rules approved by the Penitentiary Service, it was found that due to preventive measures, the sending of parcels and the meetings of  persons from outside with convicts and detainees were restricted.

NPG members conducted interviews with the administration and medical staff of these institutions, and inspected their approaches how to ensure the health rights of convicts and detainees, and the prices of food and daily necessities in the market desks at the penitentiaries. At the same time, a physician member of the NPG provided detailed information on the relevant recommendations of the World Health Organization and the Operational Headquarters under the Cabinet of Ministers.

The NPG members underlined the importance of continuing regular sanitary and disinfection measures, strengthening the control over using of protective masks and gloves of the staff, and following to the social isolation measures as prescribed by the Operational Headquarters.  

During the meetings, administration of the facility was informed that the live reception of applicants by the Ombudsman Office and the regional centers was temporarily suspended to prevent the rapid spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) in the country, in accordance with the rules established by the Operational Headquarters. Taking these into account, it was recommended to the heads of the above-mentioned institutions to send the detainees' appeals to the Commissioner by post without delay.

The Commissioner pays special attention to the issues related to the detention conditions in the places, which persons cannot leave on their own will, and the monitoring will be continued.