Azerbaijan: The CPT Reports “Endemic” Torture And Corruption

Torture, physical ill-treatments and corruption seem to be usual in Azerbaijan according to the new report released on July, 18 by the CPT.

The Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) went to Azerbaijan several times since 2004. It concludes that “torture and other forms of physical ill-treatment by the police, other law enforcement agencies and the army, corruption in the whole law enforcement system and impunity remain systemic, widespread and endemic”.

In addition, Azerbaijan is facing a serious problem of impunity and lack of proper investigation on these human rights violations. It remains difficult for people to have access to a doctor, a lawyer or just receiving information on the rights they have.

Then, prisons are overcrowded, with poor material conditions, lack of activities and low salaries for prison staff. As a result, corruption is gaining ground and preventing inter-prisoner violence is hard as says the report.

However, the CPT welcomes the decision of the Azerbaijani authorities to publish all these reports, which is a step further in their cooperation.

By Antoine Dewaest

Photo by The Kremlin, Archive