Azerbaijani human rights defender Intigam Aliev claims that he was beaten at Istanbul airport

Intigam Aliev, the well-known Azerbaijani human rights defender and lawyer, the head of the Society of Legal Education, claims that on December 7 he had been detained at the Istanbul airport and subjected to pressure and violence by Turkish policemen. According to Intigam Aliev, he was released and deported to Baku only after intermediation of international human rights organizations.

A criminal Case was instituted against the human rights defender on charges of insulting the Turkish police. Intigam Aliev intends to punish the persons guilty of his detention, which he treats as unreasonable, of his insulting and beating, the of the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports.

Intigam Aliev: request for politeness resulted in beating

Intigam Aliev was on his way back to Azerbaijan via Istanbul from Vilnius, where he took part in the meeting of civil society activists within the meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the OSCE.

According to him, the incident has started with the fact that at passport control a Turkish official put a stamp in Aliev's passport and carelessly threw it on a table. At the same time, he shouted at Aliev to take his passport "quickly". In response, Aliev urged the official to politeness. After that, they got into a dispute.

According to Aliev, the arriving police officers made a rush at him and began to accuse him of violation of public order. He had presented the documents proving that he was the human rights defender and the lawyer; however, no effect followed. Then, Aliev demanded to meet the head of the airport police. The management representative has arrived; however, he demanded apologies from the human rights defender.

"I refused to apologize and said that the official was rude to me and he had to bring his apologies to me," said Intigam Aliev.

After that, they seized Aliev and forced him to the airport basement, beating the human rights defender to his head and body. According to Aliev, in the basement, during four hours, they gave him no opportunity to meet a lawyer and to write a complaint.

At the same time, the human rights defender managed to write an SMS message to his colleagues in Baku, and they notified media and international organizations of his detention.

The police officers did not allow Aliev to talk on a mobile phone.

Five hours later, Aliev was given an opportunity to meet a lawyer. He believes that it has become possible thanks to intermediation of international human rights organizations.

The human rights defender was told that he would be deported on Wednesday, December 7, at 11:50 p.m. However, at the same time, he was told that a criminal case was instituted against him on charges of insulting the police. At the same time, no documents or detailed explanations were presented to Aliev.

The human rights defender has stated with regret that "Turkey is becoming increasingly similar to Azerbaijan." "The policemen put pressure on me not to complain. One of them has threatened me: 'Should you be not silent, you will be in big trouble," says Intigam Aliev.

Khalil Kochabash: Turkish policemen misunderstood phrases said by Aliev during dispute and took them for abuse

Khalil Kochabash, the Aliev's Turkish lawyer, told the Azerbaijani Office Service of the "Radio Freedom" that the Turkish policemen misunderstood the phrases said by Intigam Aliev during the dispute and took them for abuse. "The police officer pushed and, perhaps, hit with his fist Intigam Aliev. We will clarify that after watching the records shot by video cameras. After that, Aliev was threatened; they told him that they could make it worse," said Khalil Kochabash.

According to him, Turkish lawyers intervened in the case and invited the Turkish journalists. Khalil Kochabash reported that on the fact of pressure and violence against Aliev they would file complaints to Turkish courts.

At the same time, the administration of the Turkish airport denied the fact of violence against Aliev, declaring that "everything was recorded by video cameras."

Anar Gasymov: Azerbaijan to urge Turkish authorities to investigate crime against Azerbaijani citizen

Immediately upon his arrival in Baku, Intigam Aliev underwent medical examination at the City Clinical Centre. According to Anar Gasymov, the lawyer defending the Aliev's interests, Aliev's face and neck bear signs of violence - scratches and bruises. Besides, Aliev complained of pain in his kidneys.

"During the day of Thursday, December 8, we are to get the official medical report from the hospital. After that, we will appeal to the police station in the community where Intigam Aliev resides. Of course, the Azerbaijani police cannot investigate the crime committed in the territory of another state. However, the law enforcement agencies of Azerbaijan should urge the Turkish authorities to investigate the crimes against the Azerbaijani citizen," said the lawyer Gasymov.

In its turn, the Turkish Embassy had not commented on the incident yet because of lack of the official information.

Let us note that Intigam Aliev is one of the most consistent activists adhering to development of democracy in Azerbaijan, and he was repeatedly subjected to pressure due to that fact.