On the 30th of October, Ramil Usubov, the Minister of Internal Affairs, Colonel General received a delegation led by George Tugushi, a member of the Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment of Council of Europe. According to the press service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, welcoming the guests, the Minister pointed out the importance of close and business relations between the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Council of Europe and the great importance of measures taken to ensure human rights and freedoms within the framework of this cooperation.

The minister emphasized that special Action Plans were developed and implemented to fulfill the tasks arising from the normative legal acts signed by Mr. Ilham Aliyev, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan for the protection of human rights, the systematic work to improve the outlook of the internal affairs bodies personnel and to benefit from international experience, that about 300 employees participated in seminars on human rights held in our country and in foreign countries in the first nine months of only this year.

The guests were also informed that the appeals on violation of human and civil rights and freedoms were investigated promptly and operatively, and appropriate measures were taken. During the last period of this year, 341 employees were punished for violation of human and civil rights, including 20 dismissed from their posts, 38 dismissed from their positions, and 283 given disciplinary reprimands.

It was also mentioned that from 2001 to present 50 out of 72 temporary detention facilities were newly constructed and 22 were capitally repaired by measures taken by the territorial police authorities for reconstruction of temporary detention facilities in compliance with modern standards. It was noted that appropriate institutions of international organizations, as well as observers from Ombudsman institution and non-governmental structures were provided with necessary conditions for conduction of free and unrestricted monitoring of 85 times during this year in these facilities, where the opportunities of modern information technologies are widely used.

It was also regrettably noted that some people who are interested in affecting the business reputation of police in the community are trying to mislead public opinion on this issue, and addressing biased and unreasonable appeals to prestigious international organizations, including the Council of Europe.

Mr. George Tugushi thanked the Minister Ramil Usubov for his warm welcome and detailed information, noting the elimination of a part of shortcomings revealed during the monitoring at various times held by the organization he leads, as well as the principled approach by the administration of the Ministry to the cases of violation of human and civil rights and freedoms, reminded that there are still some deficiencies in the detention of people brought to the territorial police departments, and expressed hope that as a positive result of mutually beneficial cooperation, they will soon be resolved as well.

A number of other issues that interested the parties were also discussed at the meeting.