Human rights defenders demand international investigation into road accident with Ogtai Gyulyalyev in Azerbaijan

The platform of civil solidarity, which unites about 35 human rights organizations from different countries, has called on for an international investigation into a road traffic accident with Ogtai Gyulyalyev. Azerbaijani activists doubt the investigators' objectivity.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on November 6, Ogtai Gyulyalyev, the coordinator of the Committee against Repression and Torture, was transferred to a clinic in Istanbul. The medical treatment is being financed by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation. On December 10, the Foundation extended funding for the medical treatment of Ogtai Gyulyalyev in Turkey.

Authors of the human rights defenders' appeal believe that Ogtai Gyulyalyev was "intentionally hit by a car driver."

"In 2019, Ogtai Gyulyalyev was eight times summoned to the police. He was illegally interrogated and demanded to stop his human rights activities, exposing torture and seeking protection of political prisoners. In 2012, Ogtai Gyulyalyev was arrested for human rights activities and spent several months in prison," the human rights defenders emphasize in their appeal.

Ogtai Gyulyalyev himself repeatedly claimed receiving threats, the appeal notes.

The human rights defenders believe that the activist fell victim to "his crucial position on torture of activists detained during the protests in the city of Ganja in July 2018."

Rovshan Akhmedli, a member of the Committee against Repression and Torture, also believes that "Ogtai Gyulyalyev was intentionally hit by a car."