Weekdays of Nakhchivan
December 11, 2012 the representatives of the civil society of Nakhchivan made a statement, which refers to the next wave of repression of dissidents in the region, reports the “Turan”. In this regard, Resource Centre for the Development of NGOs and Democracy called on local and international human rights organizations to express their attitude to such tyranny and familiarize with the situation on the ground.
In appeal says that December 8, 2012, at the customs point Sadarak was beaten and then arrested two businessmen – Mahammad Gurbanov and Nadir Mammadov. Their families are concerned, because for four days no information about them, and the place of detention there. As reported relatives to “Turan”, after beating Nadir Mammadov went home, but later the police came for him and forcibly taken away.
His wife, Farida Mammadova was said in the police of Sadarak district that her husband and the second entrepreneur had not been in police. However, both cars were in the yard of police. Farida Mammadova believes that both entrepreneurs had been tortured, and this is reason that they are not shown to the families. Despite an appeal to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Nakhchivan, there was no answer.
Earlier entrepreneur Mahammad Gurbanov told reporters that the customs had seized goods imported from Turkey, demanding a bribe. December 8 journalists together with the entrepreneur came to customs, but were attacked by people in civilian clothes. In this case, it was beaten entrepreneur Nadir Mammadov and his employee Togrul Abbasov. Journalists were pulled out of a car and were taken away the cameras and mobile phones.
In connection with this fact Nakhchivan Customs Department released a statement, calling the information entrepreneurs false and unfounded. Customs claims that the detainee Mahammad Gurbanov repeatedly violated customs regulations, and December 8 the goods imported by him (more than three tons of food) were seized because he did not have proper documentation.
However, human rights activists say that M. Gurbanov fundamentally refuses to pay bribes to customs officials. In 2009, he was put up on 28 days in a local psychiatric hospital. Gurbanov was released only after protests from local and international community.
In addition, December 9, 2012 the regional correspondent of the Institute of Reporters Freedom and Safety on the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic (NAR) Hyakimeldostu Mehdiyev was arrested and taken to the Nakhchivan City Police Department. It began an investigation against him of administrative case on charges of committing of road accidents. A car of journalist was placed on the “penalty area for cars”.
Human rights activists assert that Mehdiyev being persecuted in connection with an incident at the Sadarak customs, where local journalists came under pressure, when they had investigated the issue for infringement of rights of a businessman Mamed Gurbanov. Mehdiyev had helped to the journalists – Ilgar Nasibov and Elman Abbasov – to make a video survey, and then brought them out from the site of the incident in his own car.
Morning on December 10, 2012 Head of Regional Resource Center for the Development of NGOs and Democracy Malahat Nasibova , journalists Ilgar Nasibov, Elman Abbasov and Hyakimeldostu Mehdiyev arrived at the building of the Customs Committee to take back their camcorders and voice recorders.
But, the group of customs officers pounced on them with offending and pushed out of the building.
This post is also available in: Russian
