Int'l groups offer body to probe 'torture cases'
A number of international groups have offered to set up a special
taskforce to investigate purported instances of torture in
Azerbaijan.
But government officials said the measure would be unacceptable on the grounds that the country has not joined a relevant international convention.
Chairman of the Committee Against Torture Elchin Behbudov argued that setting up such a body was necessary given that Azerbaijan has already joined a number of anti-torture conventions. He told the press that the country co-signed such documents at the UN in 1996 and at the Council of Europe in 2002.
Behbudov reminded that the Azerbaijani government had assumed an obligation to thoroughly scrutinize allegations of torture and to hold the culprits accountable. "I have appealed to the head of state in this connection, as establishing the taskforce is important. This would glorify Azerbaijan in the international arena," the committee chairman said.
Behbudov said the working group could be set up by the government and include representatives of NGOs and employees of power-wielding agencies. "International organizations support us in this effort. Both the Council of Europe and the OSCE concur with us on this idea," he said.
Behbudov said instances of torture were observed the most during pre-trial investigations. Persons brought in as suspects at times face torture. "The goal here is to acquire the desired testimony from them."
He added that two types of torture were mostly used - beating one's feet with rubber batons and electric shock.
But government officials said the measure would be unacceptable on the grounds that the country has not joined a relevant international convention.
Chairman of the Committee Against Torture Elchin Behbudov argued that setting up such a body was necessary given that Azerbaijan has already joined a number of anti-torture conventions. He told the press that the country co-signed such documents at the UN in 1996 and at the Council of Europe in 2002.
Behbudov reminded that the Azerbaijani government had assumed an obligation to thoroughly scrutinize allegations of torture and to hold the culprits accountable. "I have appealed to the head of state in this connection, as establishing the taskforce is important. This would glorify Azerbaijan in the international arena," the committee chairman said.
Behbudov said the working group could be set up by the government and include representatives of NGOs and employees of power-wielding agencies. "International organizations support us in this effort. Both the Council of Europe and the OSCE concur with us on this idea," he said.
Behbudov said instances of torture were observed the most during pre-trial investigations. Persons brought in as suspects at times face torture. "The goal here is to acquire the desired testimony from them."
He added that two types of torture were mostly used - beating one's feet with rubber batons and electric shock.
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