Institute of Peace and Democracy condemns ex-minister’s transfer to solitary confinement

A news conference dedicated to the transfer of the former interior minister Iskandar Hamidov from the 9th reformatory to the Gobustan solitary confinement was held Wednesday at the Institute of Peace and Democracy (IPD). In 1995, I. Hamidov was sentenced to 14 years in hard labor reformatory.

The news release of the IPD says since March 17, 1995, when I. Hamidov was put behind bars, the Institute has registered 25 cases of violation of the existing legislation and international law. The Institute believes that these violations represent persecution, blackmail and political pressure on part of the authorities both on I. Hamidov proper and his family.

IPD says further that Azerbaijan has undertaken commitments in the Council of Europe to free or retry those held on political grounds. The Institute intends to forward a report on ex-minister’s case compiled by the human rights department to international organizations, including the Council of Europe.*