Arbitrary Detention, Beating and Denial of Timely Medical Assistance to Azerbaijani Youth Activists

By the South Caucasus Network of Human Rights Defenders
July 17, 2009, Bazaleti, Georgia

The South Caucasus Network for Human Rights Defenders condemns arbitrary detention, beatings and denial of timely medical assistance to Adnan Hajizade and Emin Milli (Abdullayev).
Adnan Hajizade is the coordinator of "OL" Youth Organization and well-known video-blogger, Emin Milli is the chairman of Alumni Network (AN) Youth Organisation and leader of ANTV Online TV, in Baku on July 8, 2009.
 
According to the information received by the Network, at around 8 pm on July 8, 2009, two athletic type young men severely assaulted Adnan Hajizade and Emin Milli, while they were sitting in a Baku restaurant, asking them "Why do you criticize the government?"
 
When they went to the police station to complain about the assaults, the police of the Sabail District denied medical assistance to Adnan Hajizade and Emin Milli and detained them under charges of hooliganism (Article 221.2.1 of the Azerbaijani Criminal Code). Both were denied access to the lawyers of their own choice until the following day. On July 10, 2009 the Sabail District Court ordered the activists to be detained for two months in pre-trial detention.
 
The detention of Adnan Hajizade and Emin Milli seems to be exclusively motivated by a wish to sanction them because of their recent activities.

The South Caucasus Network for Human Rights Defenders wants to remind Azerbaijani authorities that no one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest or detention as guaranteed by the Azerbaijani Constitution the European Convention on Human Rights. 

The 30 NGOs within the South Caucasus Network for Human Rights Defenders urge the Azerbaijani authorities to:

• Immediately  release Adnan Hajizade, and Emin Milli in the absence of valid legal charges that are consistent with international law and standards, or, if such charges exist, bring them before an impartial, independent, competent and fair tribunal and guarantee their procedural rights at all times;
• Carry out a prompt, effective, thorough, independent and impartial investigation into the events, the result of which must be made public, in order to bring those responsible before a competent, impartial tribunal
• Guarantee physical and psychological integrity of Adnan Hajizade and Emin Milli (Abdullayev) as required by the international human rights obligations which are binding on Azerbaijan.
• Ensure that both are examined by independent doctors and receive adequate medical care.

Letter sent to:
 
Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Office of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, 19 Istiqlaliyyat St., Baku AZ1066, Azerbaijan, Fax: +994 12 492 06 25, +994 412 92 28 68, E-mail: office@apparat.gov.az, president@gov.az, root@lider.baku.az

Prosecutor's Office of the Azerbaijani Republic,  7 Nigar Rafibeyli St., Baku, Azerbaijan,
Fax: +994 12 492 06 82, +994 (12) 492 26 63, E-mail: prosec@azeri.com

Minister of Internal Affairs of the Azerbaijani Republic, Lt.-Gen. Ramil Usubov,
Baku, Azerbaijan, Fax: + 994 (12) 492 45 90

Ministry of National Security Center of Public Relations, Baku, Parliament Avenue, 2, Tel: 493-76-22, Fax: +994 493-76-22, E-mail: cpr@mns.gov.az

Minister of Justice in Azerbaijan, Prospekt Stroitelej, 1 Baku Azerbaijan, E-mail: contact@justice.gov.az, Tel: + 994 (12) 430 01 16, Fax: + 994 (12) 430 09 81

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mr. Elmar Mammedyarov, 4, S. Qurbanov Str., Baku AZ 1009, Azerbaijan, Tel: +994 (12) 596 90 00, Fax: +994 (12) 498 84 80, E-mail: secretariat@mfa.gov.az; katiblik@mfa.gov.az

Permanent Mission of Azerbaijan, Rue de Lausanne 67, CH-1202, Geneve, Suisse, E-mail: az.mission.unog@iprolink.ch, Fax: +4122 901 18 44

Azerbaijani Embassy in Brussels, Avenue Moliere, 464, 1050 Brussels, Belgium, Tel: +32 2 345 26 60, Fax: +32 2 345 91 85

Ombudsman of Azerbaijan Ms Elmira Suleimanova

Copies sent to:

Delegation of the European Commission to Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan
Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights in the Council of Europe
UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders
The OSCE/ODIHR, Human Rights Focal Point, Warsaw 
Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders
Norwegian Embassy in Azerbaijan
Swedish Embassy in Georgia
French Embassy in Azerbaijan
US Embassy in Azerbaijan