The Platform of the “Third Republic” issued an announcement stating threats to Akif Gurbanov, the chief of this group, within the Baku pre-trial detention center-1. It’s stated {that a} high-ranking authorities official appeared within the pre-trial detention middle and demanded that Gurbanov cease making accusations in opposition to the top of state. In any other case, Gubanov was threatened with torture. “On the identical time, quite a lot of different individuals illegally arrested within the case of “Toplum TV” and the Institute of Democratic Initiatives have been threatened by the top of the Baku pre-trial detention center-1, Elnur Ismayilov. He additionally said that their scenario would worsen if Akif Gurbanov continued to make such statements. They have been severely threatened with ill-treatment,” the assertion stated.
“Political prisoners even in pre-trial detention facilities and correctional establishments face threats of torture,” the assertion stated. All this violates Azerbaijan’s obligations below worldwide authorized devices signed by the nation, and particularly, Article 7 of the UN Worldwide Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Article 3 of the European Conference on Human Rights, the Conference in opposition to Torture and Different Merciless, Inhuman or Degrading Therapy or Punishment, the Platform’s assertion additional notes.
The authors of the paperwork specific alarm and name on the Azerbaijani authorities to place an finish to the inhumane remedy of political prisoners and launch them instantly.
In addition they name on worldwide organizations and international embassies in Baku to take measures inside their mandate to finish the inhumane remedy of Akif Gurbanov and different individuals arrested in his case. The Penitentiary Service has not but expressed its perspective to this assertion.
* Every week in the past, Gurbanov’s speech within the Court docket of Enchantment was within the media, during which he harshly criticized the nation’s authorities and the strategies of the safety forces in finishing up repression in opposition to critics of the federal government.
**Akif Gurbanov was detained on March 6, 2024 as a part of the “Toplum TV” case. On March 8, the Khatai District Court docket arrested him for 4 months.
Alesker Mammadli, founding father of the “Toplum TV” web site, Ruslan Izzatli, member of the Platform of the “Third Republic,” Mushfiq Jabbar, editor of “Toplum TV,” Ramil Babayev, Ilkin Amrahov and Ali Zeynal, staff of the Institute of Democratic Initiatives, have been additionally detained.
All of the detainees have been accused of smuggling forex, whereas pro-government media reported on the alleged “unlawful” receipt of grants from overseas by these individuals. Worldwide organizations, together with the US State Division, have referred to as on the Azerbaijani authorities to launch these unjustly arrested.
