Azerbaijan: three activists of civil society of Nakhichevan banged up

In the morning on December 15, in Nakhichevan, three participants of the project of the local Resource Centre on Human Rights and Democracy were beaten by a group of unidentified persons. The reason of the attack was in the anticorruption project of this public organization.

The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was told by Ilgar Nasibov, an employee of the Resource Centre and regional correspondent of the Azerbaijani Service of Radio Liberty for the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic (NAR), that the attackers were about 40 persons in number, and they were headed by the Pro-Rector of the Nakhichevan State University (NSU) Mamed Razi and head of the University-based branch of the party in power "Eni Azerbaijan" Elman Dzhafarly.

"We carry out researches among students about facts of corruption. With this aim in mind, we hold polls and disseminate booklets among students telling about their rights. Having learnt about it, the NSU bosses demanded that we get away from the higher school. We had to leave, but, having come to the office of the Resource Centre, we continued our work. At that moment, we saw that the two high-ranking NSU heads, together with a big group of young men, were moving towards us," said Mr Nasibov and added that the attack was launched without any warning.

"They threw us on the ground and started kicking and beating us, pouring damnations on us at the same time," he said.

Ilgar Nasibov had its rib and nose damaged, and his face broken. Another employee of the Centre - Vafadar Eivazov - also had his nose and face damaged. Journalist Elman Abbasov (employee of the regional representative office of the Institute of Reporters' Freedom and Safety) was also beaten; however, he has suffered less than others.

"The police arrived to the venue after the attackers had disappeared; we told them about what had happened, but policemen did nothing," said Ilgar Nasibov and added that all the three victims were going to lodge an official complaint.

The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent could not get any comments from the NAR's MIA. The person on duty at the Ministry refused to talk by telephone as soon as he learnt that a journalist from Baku was calling.