EXTERNALAI Index: EUR 04/03/96

17 April 1996

Further information (1) UA 101/96 (EUR 04/02/96, 15 April 1996) - Fear of Forcible Repatriation / Fear for Safety / Death penalty

RUSSIA/AZERBAIJANRahim Hasan oglu QAZIYEV

(Рагим Гасан оглы ГАЗИЕВ in Russian) and

Ayaz MUTALIBOV

(Аяз МУТАЛИБОВ in Russian)

Amnesty International has learned with great regret that Rahim Qaziyev, detained in Moscow on 14 April, was forcibly repatriated to Azerbaijan on 16 April 1996. Amnesty International fears that he will suffer serious human rights violations in Azerbaijan, specifically torture, ill-treatment and the death penalty.

Rahim Qaziyev's wife was unable to obtain access to the central police station Petrovka 38 in Moscow where he was reportedly still detained in the afternoon of 16 April. Amnesty International does not know what procedures, if any, were available to Rahim Qaziyev to appeal against his forcible repatriation.

Amnesty International is now calling on the Azerbaijani authorities to guarantee the safety of Rahim Qaziyev and to ensure that he is not subjected to torture or ill-treatment. The organization is also appealing to the President of Azerbaijan to commute Rahim Qaziyev's death sentence.

Former President Ayaz Mutalibov, detained on 11 April, is reportedly held in the medical ward of the detention centre of the Moscow City Directorate of Internal Affairs (GUVD)after suffering heart problems. The Office of the Russian Prosecutor General stated on 16 April that a decision as to the forcible repatriation of Ayaz Mutalibov had not yet been taken.

FURTHER RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send telegrams/faxes/express/airmail letters in Russian, English or in your own language:

To the Russian authorities:

- expressing regret at the Russian authorities' forcible repatriation of Rahim Qaziyev despite fears that the he will suffer serious human rights violations in Azerbaijan;

- urging the Russian authorities not to extradite Ayaz Mutalibov to Azerbaijan

- reminding the Russian authorities of their obligations under international law, in particular under the Convention against Torture

To the Azerbaijani authorities:

- urging the Azerbaijani authorities to guarantee the safety of Rahim Qaziyev and ensure that he is not subjected to torture or ill-treatment in detention;

- urging the President of Azerbaijan to grant clemency to Rahim Qaziyev and commute his death sentence.

APPEALS TO:

Procurator General of the Russian Federation

Yuriy SKURATOV

Rossiyskaya Federatsiya

103793 g. Moskva K-31

Ul. Dimitrovka, d. 15a

Prokuratura Rossiyskoy Federatsii

Generalnomu prokuroru Skuratovu Yu.

Telegrams: Rossiya, 103793 Moskva, Generalnomu prokuroru Skuratovu

Faxes: +7 095 925 18 79 or +7 095 292 88 48

Salutation: Dear Procurator General

President of Azerbaijan

Heydar Aliyev

Azerbaydzhanskaya Respublika

370066 g. Baku

ul. Kommunisticheskaya, 19

Prezidentu Azerbaydzhanskoy Respubliki Aliyevu G.

Telegrams: Azerbaijan, 370066 Baku, Prezidentu Aliyevu

Fax: (994 12) 98 33 28 or (994 12) 98 08 02

Salutation: Dear President

Procurator General of Azerbaijan

Eldar HASANOV

Azerbaydzhanskaya Respublika

370601 g. Baku

Saratovtsa Efimova, 7

Respublikanskaya prokuratura

Generalnomu prokuroru Hasanovu E.

Telegrams: Azerbaijan, 370601 Baku, Generalnomu prokuroru Hasanovu

Fax: (944 12) 95 63 95 or (944 12) 92 80 44

Salutation: Dear Procurator General

COPIES TO:

President of Russia

Boris YELTSIN

Rossiyskaya Federatsiya

g. Moskva

Kreml

Prezidentu Rossii Yeltsinu B.

Faxes: +7 095 206 51 73

Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs,

Evgeny PRIMAKOV

Rossiyskaya Federatsiya

121200 g. Moskva

Smolenskaya-Sennaya pl., 32/34

Ministerstvo inostrannykh del

Ministru Primakovu Ye.

Faxes: +7 095 244 1480

Azerbaijani Minister of Foreign Affairs

Hasan HASANOV

Azerbaydzhanskaya Respublika

370001 g. Baku

Kontrolny per., 2

Ministerstvo inostrannykh del

Ministru HASANOVU H.

Fax: (994 12) 93 56 43 or (994 12) 65 10 38

and to diplomatic representatives of Russia and Azerbaijan accredited to your country, as appropriate.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 29 May 1996.