21 February 2019, 23:12
ECtHR obliges Azerbaijani authorities to pay 24,000 euros to Novruzali Mamedov's relatives
The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) recognized the violation of the rights of Novruzali Mamedov, the editor-in-chief of the newspaper "Tolyshi Sado", who died in an Azerbaijani prison, and obliged the authorities to pay his widow compensation in the amount of 2000 euros.
The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Novruzali Mamedov was arrested on February 2, 2007. He was accused of collaboration with Iranian intelligence, and the charge was based on the testimony of Guliev, who confessed to the crime. On June 24, 2008, Novruzali Mamedov was sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment under the article on treason against the state. On August 17, 2009, Novruzali Mamedov died in a prison hospital.
International human rights organizations recognized Novruzali Mamedov as a political prisoner.
According to Hilal Mamedov, the head of the committee to protect Talysh people's rights, the arrest of Novruzali Mamedov was "an act of intimidation to force the national minorities of Azerbaijan not to fight for their rights."
The ECtHR notes that Novruzali Mamedov complained of ill-treatment by law enforcers.
Novruzali Mamedov was a linguist, and he worked at the Institute of Linguistics of the Azerbaijani Academy of Sciences. He was a Talysh and conducted research on the Talysh language.
After his detention on February 2, 2007, Novruzali Mamedov was subjected to a 24-hour interrogation about his alleged cooperation with Iranian intelligence. During all that time he was deprived of water, food, and sleep, and was subjected to physical violence.
Members of the Novruzali Mamedov's family believed that his health was seriously undermined by the prison conditions.
This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on February 21, 2019 at 06:12 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.
Author: Faik Medjid Source: CK correspondent
