23:16, 27 December 2004

Azerbaijan ombudsperson reveals no torture

For the period of its activity, the "fast response group" in the staff of the Azerbaijan ombudsperson has inspected over 150 temporary detention isolators and revealed no fact of torture, Commissioner for Human Rights in Azerbaijan Elmira Suleymanova told the Caucasian Knot correspondent. According to her, members of the group, which was created in June 2004, immediately launched investigations into the matter of all applications submitted by citizens concerning the violation of their rights.

It is worth reminding that the "fast response group" works within the framework of the joint project of the ombudsperson's staff and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) "Rendering the Azerbaijan Ombudsperson Assistance to Prevent Torture in Isolators and Places of Temporary Detention".

Author: Zaur Rasulzade, CK correspondent