IRFS: lawyer not admitted to arrested journalists of "Khayal" TV Channel

Azerbaijani law enforcers are preventing the lawyer Elchin Sadygov from meeting his clients - Vugar Gonagov and Zaur Guliev, the executive director and editor-in-chief of the regional TV Channel "Khayal", respectively, accused of events in the city of Guba. This was reported by the Institute for Reporters' Freedom and Safety (IRFS). The penitentiary service denies this information.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in Guba on March 1 up to 10,000 people gathered at a rally demanding resignation of the head of the district executive power Rauf Gabibov, because of the video posted on the Internet, where Gabibov moved a series of accusations against Guba residents. After these public disorders, the above two official of the regional "Khayal" TV Channel and also Zaur Mustafaev, the advertising editor, were charged with the organization of the actions aimed at disturbing the public order, or of participation therein. In particular, the journalists were accused of disseminating the above Gabibov's speech on the Internet.

Law enforcement bodies deny torturing journalist at GUBOP

As reported by the IRFS, on April 25, the advocate was not allowed to meet his clients at the Baku SIZO (pre-trial prison). Prior to that, the advocate wrote appeals to the President, General Public Prosecutor, Ombudsman and to other bodies asking to investigate the cases of torture, reported earlier by defendant Guliev. He also asked to provide emergency medical aid to the detainee; however, this was not done, says the IRFS.

"During the interrogation of Zaur Guliev as a defendant, as well as declaring his charges to him, all his rights under the law of criminal procedure were observed; no actions, degrading his dignity, and no torture were admitted. No complaints arrived from Zaur Guliev and his defenders," said the press service of the General Prosecutor's Office.

"What Zaur Guliev had said is not true. He was not tortured, beaten or insulted. This wasn't and couldn't be the case," the "mediaforum.az" quotes Mirgafar Seidov, the head of the GUBOP (Chief Department to Fight Organized Crime).

In her turn, Elmira Suleimanova, the Ombudsperson, said today that employees of her office had visited Guliev; and he expressed no complaints.

However, she has acknowledged that Guliev and Gonagov were held in pre-trial detention at the GUBOP more than the prescribed limit. "This was the case and it is a fact. Once we have revealed it, we immediately applied to the General Prosecutor's Office and the MIA. The problem was settled, and the journalists were transferred to the SIZO," Ms Suleimanova said.

Sadygov: advocate was not admitted for objective reasons

Mekhman Sadygov, the head of the PR division of the Penitentiary Service, denied the reports that the advocate was not allowed to see his client. "The lawyer just hasn't presented an order; therefore, he was not allowed into the SIZO," said Mr Sadygov.

As to Guliev's statement that he was rendered health care in detention, Sadygov said that SIZO doctors are subordinate to the hospital of the Ministry of Justice. "However, when detainees are taken into the SIZO, they are examined by doctors; and in case of any health problems, doctors take actions, since they are responsible for inmates' health," said the spokesman of the penitentiary service.

However, the advocate Elchin Sadygov insists that he was denied to meet his clients for no due reason. According to his version, he has an order to protect Gonagov and Guliev; and he had already twice visited them at the Baku SIZO.

Meanwhile, the IRFS has appealed to international organizations urging them to demand from the Azerbaijani authorities to observe their commitments to the International Convention against Torture.

Emin Guseinov, Director of the IRFS has condemned the criminal prosecution of journalists for free dissemination of information and expressed his concern for the fate of the journalists.