The Orenburg Regional Court has begun hearing the state prosecution's appeal in the 6-million-ruble bribe case involving former senator Rauf Arashukov. The prosecution is seeking to increase the fine for the former official, who was sentenced to life imprisonment, from 120 million to 420 million rubles.
The United States Department of State records the facts of killings, torture and other inhuman phenomena in Azerbaijan, as well as the harsh conditions in the country’s prisons. It’s in the State Department’s annual human rights report.
The report on Azerbaijan cited arbitrary detentions and arrests, the existence of political prisoners and repression, and the absence of an independent judiciary. Interference with privacy, severe restrictions on freedom of expression and the media and other human rights violations are also recorded.
The US also noted violence against journalists, systemic corruption in the government and lack of accountability for gender-based violence in Azerbaijan. The Government did not prosecute or punish most officials who committed human rights violations and acts of corruption. Impunity remained a problem,» says the report.