Case AZE 140709
Denial of medical assistance/ Arbitrary Detention/ Fear for safety
The International Secretariat of the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) requests your URGENT intervention in the following situation in Azerbaijan.
The International Secretariat of OMCT has been informed by a reliable source and Antenna International, a member organisation of OMCT SOS-Torture Network, about the denial of medical assistance and the arbitrary detention of Mr. Adnan Hajizade, coordinator of OL Youth Organisation and well-known video-blogger and Mr. Emin Milli (Abdullayev), chairman of Alumni Network (AN) Youth Organisation and leader of ANTV Online TV, in Baku.
According to the information received, on 8 July 2009, at around 8 pm, two athletic type young men severely assaulted Mr. Adnan Hajizade and Mr. Emin Milli, while they were sitting in a Baku restaurant, demanding “Why do you criticize the government?”.
During the assault, friends of Mr. Adnan Hajizade and Mr. Emin Milli reportedly ran to the nearby No.39 police station of Sabail Police Department, but the police allegedly informed them that “this district is not attached to our station”. The police reportedly arrived later on the scene and then took the assaulters and both injured Mr. Adnan Hajizade and Mr. Emin Milli to the Sabail District Police Department.
However, once at the District Police Department, Mr. Adnan Hajizade and Mr. Emin Milli were first denied medical assistance and later detained under charges of “hooliganism” (under Article 221.2.1 of the Azerbaijani Criminal Code). Both were also denied access to their lawyers until the following day. According to the same information, on 10 July 2009, the Sabail District Court ordered Mr. Adnan Hajizade and Mr. Emin Milli to be detained for two months in pre-trial detention.
OMCT is concerned for the safety of Mr. Adnan Hajizade and Mr. Emin Milli and urges the authorities of Azerbaijan to guarantee their physical and psychological integrity of at all times in accordance with international and regional human rights law, in particular the provisions of the European Convention on Human Rights, the UN Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
OMCT is also concerned about the detention of Mr. Adnan Hajizade and Mr. Emin Milli which seems exclusively motivated by a wish to sanction them because of their activities. OMCT recalls to Azerbaijan that no one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest or detention.
Please write to the authorities in Azerbaijan urging them to:
Please also write to the embassies of Azerbaijan in your respective country.
Geneva, 14 July 2009
Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this appeal in your reply.