On 8 June, the Azerbaijani Interior Ministry (MIA) reported the detention of 11 citizens for assaulting police officers during the lockdown.
“On 7 June, while police officers on duty were detaining a violator of the strict quarantine regime in the yard of a building in Yasamal district, several residents in the same building started throwing [various things] from their balconies and windows… at police officers and voiced insults against them ... In the course of the investigation, 11 people, who threw various items at police officers, were identified, detained and taken to the police station,“ read the statement.
The Center for Monitoring Political Prisoners (CMPP) condemned the use of disproportionate force by the Ministry of Internal Affairs Rapid Response Regiment employees. The force included beatings and degrading treatment of detainees. “CMPP regards these actions as a “crime against citizens.” In accordance with the law on police, police officers have no right to strike on the head, especially to a person who does not show resistance,” said the head of CMPP Elshan Hasanov.
Following the incident, Azerbaijan’s MIA dismissed a police officer who behaved unethically toward a citizen during the detention. “As a result of the investigation, it has been revealed that one of the officers spoke in a loud voice to a woman and used inappropriate expressions against her husband. Thus, taking into account this unacceptable behaviour, the leadership of the Ministry of Internal Affairs has decided to dismiss the police officer in question and launch an investigation into the incident. Moreover, the woman insulted by that police officer has been invited to the Baku City Main Police Department to convey the police officers’ apologies to her,“ stated Azerbaijan’s MIA.
The Azerbaijani Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) Sabina Aliyeva also appealed to the MIA following the incident. “A video and photos regarding the moment of detention of citizens [who were] violating rules during toughened quarantine regime in Yasamal district of Baku city [have been viewed]. From this point of view, the information disseminated on internet resources and social networks has been taken under control by the Ombudsman. The detained persons were received onsite individually, their appeals are being considered,” the statement emphasized.
