"Nida" activist complains about torture at police station

In Baku, the court has read out the indictment against Bairam Mamedov, and activist of the movement "Nida", suspected of drug trafficking on a large scale. Bairam Mamedov believes he is being prosecuted because of the graffiti at the monument to Geidar Aliev.

Public prosecutor Ramin Nagdaliev read out the indictment. It argues that in late 2015, Bairam Mamedov bought from an Iranian citizen 1.152 kg of heroin with the intention to sell it. According to the prosecutors' version, part of the drugs was seized from Bairam Mamedov during his detention, and the remainder was found during a search of his apartment.

Bairam Mamedov said that on May 10, he was detained in the village of Sabunchu and then subjected to torture at the district police department. According to the defendant, the drugs were planted to him at a police station in Baku.

According to public prosecutor Ramin Nagdaliev, the facts of torture have not been confirmed. Then Bairam Mamedov showed scars on his hands, which, according to him, were signs of torture.

The policemen, who testified at the trial as witnesses, in particular, Shirali Babaev, the chief criminal investigator of the Baku police department, denied use of torture.

The next court hearing is scheduled for November 24.

The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent has been told by independent advocate Yalchin Imanov that the procedural law does not clearly prescribe mandatory examination of fingerprints on drug packages. However, according to the advocate, in case if the defence requests then the investigators must appoint such an examination.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.