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Azerbaijani human rights defenders accuse each other

03 December 2009 12:26 (UTC +04:00)

Baku. Ramil Mammadli â€“ APA. A press conference was held in connection with the report on human rights and freedoms in Azerbaijan sent to the UN Committee against Torture by the Public Union for Raising Awareness on Human Rights, APA reports. Chairperson of the public union Irada Javadova said she attended the 43rd session of the UN Committee against Torture in Geneva. She said a report was presented on behalf of the organization. Javadova said the report was prepared basing on 45 questions addressed by the UN to Azerbaijani government.
â€œThe 54-page report covers analysis of the legislation, notes on the committeeâ€™s recommendations and the report of Azerbaijani government, frequent violations of law, materials about some of the persons, who underwent torture,â€ she said.

Irada Javadova said some human rights defenders made biased report in the session. She accused chairman of the Azerbaijani Committee against Torture Elchin Behbudov.
â€œI have never seen a grounded report on tortures made by Elchin Behbudov,â€ he said.

Expert of the union Natavan Rustamova presented the report. She said the report shows tortures in the police departments, temporary detention facilities, jails.
â€œIt is recommended to transfer the detention facility of the National Security Ministry to the subordination of the Justice Ministry and close it,â€ she said.

Chairman of Azerbaijani Committee against Torture Elchin Behbudov told APA that Irada Javadovaâ€™s words are groundless.
â€œIrada Javadova is the chairperson of the Public Union for Raising Awareness on Human Rights. She has no notion of tortures. She would rather raise awareness of people,â€ he said.
Behbudov said Javadova voiced biased reports at the 43rd session of the UN Committee against Torture.