National Preventive Group continues visits

Upon the instruction of the Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) Elmira Suleymanova, members of the National Preventive Group (NPG) conducted a visit to the Temporary Detention Place (TDP) of Narimanov District Police Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs without prior notification.

The aim of the visit was to investigate the detention conditions and treatment issues, to learn the status of ensuring the detainees’ rights in accordance with legislation and conducting documentation.

 Within the visit to the TDP, documents proving legality of detention, as well as on treatment with those persons and their detention conditions were investigated. Cells were reviewed, documentation regarding nutrition, medical assistance, walking, meeting, phone conversations, making exit from cells, parcels was monitored; existing shortcomings were got acquainted with.

NPG members received the detained persons in private for the purpose of investigating detention conditions and treatment issues in the TDP, heard their appeals, explained Ombudsman’s competences and provided legal advice to each of them. Several appeals were provided upon on-site investigation.

Legal awareness discussions were held with the staf members of that Police Department and TDP at the end of the visit, organized on the basis of the requirements of the Optional Protocol to the United Nations Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT) and the Constitutional Law on the Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Relevant recommendations were given for the elimination of some deficiencies revealed about addressing appeals, the documentation and registration.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs was applied on the outcome of the visit.