Rights defenders state numerous violations in Azerbaijani prisons and colonies

Prisoners in Azerbaijan are kept in unacceptable conditions – in the cold and unsanitary cells; and they have to pay money for meetings with relatives. Colonies and SIZOs (pre-trial prisons) see cases of physical violence against political prisoners and those who try to tell the media about what is happening – these are the conclusions of the report on the situation in prisons, prepared by rights defenders and former prisoners.

The report was made by the Public Alliance "Azerbaijan Without Political Prisoners", Oktay Gyulalyev, the head of the Alliance, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

On the positive side, the authors mention the law adopted on May 22, 2012, which provided detainees and convicts with the rights to make telephone calls, have extended visits with relatives and watch TV. Inmates are also allowed to administer their religious rites.

However, in spite of the construction within the last two years of two SIZOs, most penitentiary facilities were built in the middle of the last century and fail to meet modern requirements of detention.

The authors of the report point to the prospering bribery system in prisons. As reported by Avaz Zeinalov, a former prisoner of conscience and now the editor-in-chief editor of the "Khural" newspaper, who was in custody from October 2011 to December 2014, some inmates may have privileged conditions for money.

Facts of torture remain a serious problem, added Gyulalyev.

The report presents the so-called "black lists" of prison employees, prosecutors, forensic experts and judges who took part in most blatant human rights violations.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.