Prisoner Allegedly Tortured After Protesting Sale of Water in Azerbaijani Prison

A prisoner held at Penal Colony No. 12 in Azerbaijan has allegedly been subjected to torture after protesting the sale of drinking water to inmates.

The allegation was made by the prisoner’s mother, Naila Baghirova, in an appeal addressed to President Ilham Aliyev and made public by journalist Arzu Abdulla.

According to Baghirova, her son, Elshan Mursalov, was beaten and placed in a punishment cell — commonly referred to as “kars” — after objecting to the lack of free access to water during the hot summer days and the alleged sale of water inside the prison.

“My son protested because there was no water in this extreme summer heat and because water was being sold for money. They beat him so badly that I have no hope he will survive,” Baghirova said.

She claimed that her son had previously been subjected to violence on several occasions while in detention.

“They had beaten him before as well. They damaged the veins in his legs. Although I work as a cleaner, I took him to the Topchubashov hospital and paid for his surgery myself. I spent a lot of money on that. No matter how many times we appealed to the authorities, they did not arrange the operation. After that, before his wounds had even healed, they took him back to the prison colony. I know they are doing this to my child because I have no money. Later, while his injuries had still not healed, they beat him again so badly that his testicle was ruptured,” Baghirova said.

Baghirova called on the Ombudsman’s Office to investigate the case immediately.

“I demand that the Ombudsman go and see my son’s injured face and body with their own eyes. Visiting after the wounds have healed and saying that ‘everything is fine’ is not the protection of human rights. It means enabling torture against a prisoner and turning a blind eye to it,” she said.

Baghirova told Toplum TV that she visited the Ministry of Justice on July 3 to inquire about her son’s condition. According to her, ministry officials told her that Mursalov had been placed in a punishment cell for violating internal prison rules.

“I said that if he had not been tortured, they should take me to see him myself. They refused. They told me he would be released from the punishment cell on July 9 and would then be able to call home,” Baghirova said.

It has not been possible to obtain a comment from the Penitentiary Service regarding the allegations.

Elshan Mursalov was arrested in 2017 on charges of intentional murder. He was sentenced by the court to 16 years in prison.