ECtHR recognizes torture of Azerbaijani journalist Gadjibeili

The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has satisfied the complaint lodged by the Azerbaijani journalist Mustafa Gadjibeili against inhuman treatment towards him. The ECtHR has decided to pay him a compensation of moral harm in the amount of 10,000 euros, and other 3000 euros to compensate his judicial costs.

The ECtHR announced its decision on the "Gadjibeili vs. Azerbaijani Govt" on November 24.

On April 2, 2011, Gadjibeili, then being the editor-in-chief of the newspaper "Democrat", covered a protest action of the opposition. When the action was suppressed by the police, Gadjibeili was among the detainees. He was taken to the Nasimi District Police Station of Baku, where he was kept for 8 hours. During detention, Gadjibeili, according to his story, was beaten up.

"The existence of a bruise in the applicant's right calf was fixed by the forensic medical examination of April 9, 2011," says the ECtHR's decision.

Experts have concluded that traumas were inflicted with a blunt hard object during the time corresponding to April 2, 2011.

Mustafa Gadjibeili himself said, in his talk to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent, that he was not fully satisfied with the ECtHR's decision.

"Of course, it's nice that the ECtHR found a violation of my rights. But, unfortunately, the decision lacks any prescription to punish the policemen who beat me up. The lack of impunity creates the conditions for the continuation of such practice in law enforcement bodies," said Gadjibeili.

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