Ramil Babayev says: "The Baku Pre-Trial Detention Center is seeing a lot of violence this month\”

Ramil Babayev

Ramil Babayev, who works at the Institute for Democratic Initiatives and is now in prison because of the "Toplum TV case" is writing to us from the Baku Pre-Trial Detention Center.

In April some news spread in the detention center. Ahad Abdiyev, who was head became head of a medical facility for prisoners with tuberculosis. This news seemed to make the detention center officers react. They learned that Vahid Atakishiyev, who is in charge of the regime control department would replace Ahad Abdiyev. So ranking officers started competing for the job.

This competition seems normal.. It is based on how much violence officers use against prisoners and people who are accused.

Captains, majors and Arif Heydarov, who is head of the regime control department are leading this competition. Even Vahid Atakishiyev and Javid Gulaliyev, who is known for being tough on prisoners are using force.

Violence was rare in the detention center. Now it happens every day. I want to give an example. On April 14 a prisoner was beaten for complaining about the lights being turned off during a rainstorm.

Ahad Abdiyev responded to my complaint about violence. He told the major who took me to see him: "I told you not to beat people in front of them ( prisoners)?”

Javid Gulaliyev, who was recently promoted to major told a political prisoner: "You kept writing about me and now I am a major.”

These examples and the month of violence show us what Mirsaleh Seyidov and Elnur Ismayilov who are, in charge of the detention center think is important. They reward officers who use violence.

On behalf of the accused who are being treated unfairly I ask: Please announce job openings before appointing people. This way prisoners and accused persons will not be hurt.Ramil Babayev