Azerbaijani activists launch campaign against torture

The Committee against Repressions and Torture has announced the start of a 10-day-long public campaign in Azerbaijan under the slogan "End to torture!"

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on October 19, in Baku, law enforcers dispersed a non-sanctioned protest action announced by the National Council of Democratic Forces (NCDF) and the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA). Ali Kerimli, the PFPA leader, and other oppositional politicians were detained with the use of force. The police reported 60 detainees, 42 of whom were released after warning. The tough law enforcers' and authorities' actions were criticized by the Council of Europe, the European External Relations Service, the PACE and the US Embassy to Azerbaijan.

The campaign against torture was launched in response to citizens' appeals and given the acuteness of the problem, the "Echo of the Caucasus" reports.