(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has voiced deep concern over the apparent beating of Alim Kazimov, a reporter and photographer with the main opposition daily “Yeni Musavat.” The incident took place on 28 December 2004, when Kazimov went to the Narimov district police station in Baku seeking new identity papers. The organisation called on Interior Minister Ramil […]
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has voiced deep concern over the apparent beating of Alim Kazimov, a reporter and photographer with the main opposition daily “Yeni Musavat.” The incident took place on 28 December 2004, when Kazimov went to the Narimov district police station in Baku seeking new identity papers.
The organisation called on Interior Minister Ramil Usubov to order an immediate investigation to establish why Kazimov suffered a cerebral haemorrhage inside the police station and to punish those responsible if it is confirmed that he was assaulted by police officers.
Kazimov was taken unconscious from the police station to a hospital, where he recovered consciousness but was left paralysed on the left side of his body and unable to speak. He partially recovered his speech on 29 December. His prognosis is uncertain because complications could arise at any time during the next 10 days.
On 29 December, Interior Ministry press spokesman Eisan Zahidov denied that the police were in any way responsible for the incident, referring to a statement by the head of the Narimov police station’s passport service, Abil Mamedov, who claimed that Kazimov had “created a disturbance outside the police station, saying he was going to write an article about illegal police practices.” Mamedov also said he asked Kazimov to enter the building to discuss the matter further and that at that moment, Kazimov began to feel ill and lost consciousness. The police said they then called an ambulance to take Kazimov to hospital.
