National Preventive Group of Ombudsman visited Baku Pre-trial Detention Facility

Within the framework of National Preventive Mechanism activity of the Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of the Republic of Azerbaijan, members of the Ombudsman’s National Preventive Group (NPG) for Prevention of Torture carried out a visit to Baku Pre-trial Detention Facility under the Penitentiary Service of the Ministry of Justice without prior notice.

The purpose of the visit, organized on the basis of requirements of the OPCAT and the Law on the Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of the Republic of Azerbaijan, was to investigate conditions of detention and treatment issues, status of ensuring the rights of detainees in that facility.

In the course of the visit, in which physician-member of the NPG also participated, the conditions of detention, status of ensuring rights related to nutrition, medical assistance, phone calls, meeting and others, as well as the treatment issues were investigated. For this aim, numerous accused persons were received on a random basis in private.

Elvin Iltikham oglu Isayev, deported to the Republic of Azerbaijan on December 12, 2019, was also received confidentially by the NPG members during the visit. E.Isayev expressed satisfaction about detention condition, medical service and treatment he received during the detention. At the same time, he has received parcel, contacted with his family members, and his right to telephone call was ensured.

During the visit detainees’ rights were explained to them; applications addressed to the Ombudsman, were received. Relevant requirements of the legislation were explained, legal advice was provided for persons, who raised issues about the investigation on their case; several appeals were ensured on the spot.

Corresponding authorities were addressed on the outcome of the visit and the received applications.

We would like to mention that within the NPM activity of the Ombudsman, regular visits are conducted to the places, which persons cannot leave on their own will; conditions of detention, treatment issues, organization of medical service are monitored. The recommendations given in the previous visits are discussed, their implementation is monitored, as well as legal awareness raising trainings are organized for the staff of those facilities on the basis of the national and international legislation and recommendations of the international treaty bodies to the country.