ALASGAR ISMAYILOV RECOUNTS DETENTION, FORCED

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BAKU 001251 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/17/2017 TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL KDEM AJ SUBJECT: ALASGAR ISMAYILOV RECOUNTS DETENTION, FORCED INSTITUTIONALIZATION REF: BAKU 1212 Classified By: POL/ECON CHIEF JOAN POLASCHIK PER 1.4(B,D). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: On October 10, 71-year old Popular Front Party activist Alasgar Ismayilov recounted the details of his September 20 detention and forced commitment to a mental institution. Ismayilov said he was detained by police after refusing to sign a statement declaring that Nakhchivani authorities had addressed his complaints about water supply to his apartment. He was later forcibly admitted into a mental institution in Nakhchivan, transferred to a facility near Baku, and then released to his wife on October 4. Ismayilov believes that several other patients in the Nakhchivan facility were of sound mental capacity, but had been forcibly committed after filing complaints with local authorities. Ismayilov plans to pursue his case in the courts. END SUMMARY ¶2. (C) In an October 10 meeting with Poloff, Alasgar Ismayilov recounted the details of his September 20 detention and subsequent forced commitment to a mental institution (ref). Ismayilov, 71 years old, is a Popular Front Party (PFP) activist, veteran, and doctor, who is well known in the Sadarak region of Azerbaijan's exclave, Nakhchivan, for providing free medical care to underprivileged citizens. During a September 27-28 trip to Nakhchivan, Emboffs investigated the circumstances of Ismayilov's case, as his friends and family insisted that he was of sound mental capacity, and observers believed his institutionalization to be politically motivated. After a local human rights activist witnessed Ismayilov being transferred from a mental institution in Nakhchivan City on September 27, for a period of almost 30 hours, Emboffs, human rights activists, and Ismayilov's friends and family were unable to ascertain his whereabouts from Nakhchivani authorities. In the late afternoon of September 28, the Nakhchivani Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) disclosed that Ismayilov had been "returned" to the mental institution in Nakhchivan city; he was transferred to a facility near Baku later that evening and released to his family on October 4. POLICE CUSTODY -------------- ¶3. (C) According to Ismayilov, while standing in front of his apartment building at approximately 1000 on September 20, he had been approached by Sadarak Region Police Chief Fariz Mammadov, a local traffic police officer, and a handful of other officials. For some time, Ismayilov had been filing complaints about utilities, specifically the water supply to his apartment. He said that on September 20, Mammadov ordered him to sign a form declaring that all of his complaints had been addressed by the authorities. Ismayilov refused to comply, and after some arguing, Mammadov said "We can't talk to him. Take him away." Ismayilov said that his family was inside the apartment, but unaware of what was happening. He was forced into a police car, and taken to the local police station, where Ismayilov said he was detained for approximately eight hours without food, water, or access to a restroom. He was not charged with any crime, and police did not comment on his detention, other than occasionally stating that Ismayilov would be released if he signed the papers, which he refused to do. Although police were rude, Ismayilov reported no instances of physical abuse. NAKHCHIVAN'S MENTAL INSTITUTIONS -------------- ¶4. (C) At approximately 1800, Isayilov was transferred from the police station t an old mental facility in Nakhchivan. Accordingto Ismayilov, only junior physicians without autority to admit patients were present. They admitted him without a medical examination, telling him "We have to admit you." Ismayilov remained in that facility for five to six days, during which time his family was not allowed to visit him, although other patients retained visitation rights. He talked freely with other patients, and believes that at least three others were of completely sound mental capacity, but had been forcibly admitted because of complaints they had filed with the authorities. For example, Ismayilov talked to an 84-year old man who had been institutionalized after filing property complaints. A new facility was opened about four days after Ismayilov had been admitted (the facility later visited by Emboffs),to which all patients except Ismayilov were transferred. Two days later, after the official opening ceremony, headed by Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic President Vasif Talibov, Ismayilov was transferred to the new facility. BAKU 00001251 002 OF 003 ¶5. (C) Between 1000 and 1100 on September 27, Ismayilov said he was transferred from the new facility to the "dungeon" of the Nakhchivani MIA. Although no one gave Ismayilov an explanation for the transfer, he said they behaved as if he was going to be released, and cautioned him several times "to not make trouble for Fariz Mammadov." MIA officials promised Ismayilov that he would meet with the Nakhchivani Minister of Internal Affairs, but after making excuses for two hours, Ismayilov was taken back to the new mental facility. (Authorities did not disclose his whereabouts until nearly 28 hours later.) On the afternoon of September 28, Ismayilov was told he would be transferred to a facility near Baku, which he protested, to no avail. He was transferred to the Mashtaga mental institution later that evening. During his stay at the Nakhchivan mental facilities, Ismayilov said he was never medically examined, although two physicians engaged him in informal conversation. He said he barely ate during this period because the food was of such poor quality. Although his blood pressure spiked, Ismayilov was afraid to accept any medication from the facility's doctors, and thus remained untreated. THE MASHTAGA FACILITY -------------- ¶6. (C) Upon being admitted to the Mashtaga mental institution, Ismayilov saw his papers, which listed only "medical treatment" as the cause for admittance rather than a specific diagnosis. Ismayilov reported that he underwent several psychological examinations, but doctors could not find a reason to keep him in the facility. Ismayilov said that each day he was told that he would be released, but that there was no one present to whom he could be released. His wife arrived in Baku the evening of October 3; Ismayilov underwent a final psychological examination and was released to her on October 4. Ismayilov believes that, unlike the Nakhchivani facilities, all of the other patients in the Mashtaga facility exhibited real symptoms of mental disorders. POSSIBLE MOTIVES AND NEXT STEPS -------------- ¶7. (C) Unprompted, Ismayilov noted that we may have heard rumors that he "runs around naked in his yard." According to Ismayilov, this is completely untrue. He said that since he was a teenager, he has done exercises every morning in his yard, after which he dries off with a towel. Ismayilov said that while doing so, he has always worn - at a minimum - boxer shorts, and never does this in view of his neighbors. He does not know how the rumors started. (In a September 28 meeting, the head of the Nakhchivani Ministry of Foreign Affairs told Poloff that he had heard this rumor, which he believed to be true, and an indicator that Ismayilov was mentally unstable.) ¶8. (C) Ismayilov believes that while he is widely known to be an oppositionist, his detention and forced institutionalization were solely based on the complaints he had filed with local authorities. (Ismayilov reported four previous detentions; in each instance he had been charged with "hooliganism.") Regarding the close timing to the arrest and beating of Nakhchivani opposition journalist Hakimeldostu Mehdiyev (ref),Ismayilov noted that the two worked together in the Popular Front movement of the late 1980's. However, other than his perception that the Nakhchivani government "has its thumb on everything," he does not believe the incidents to be connected. Ismayilov is afraid to return to Nakhchivan, certain that authorities will find a reason to detain him. Further, he has heard rumors that he will be fired from his position at a public hospital if he tries to return. Ismayilov plans to pursue his case in the courts, saying that "I want to see Fariz Mammadov behind bars." COMMENT -------------- ¶9. (C) In the meeting, Ismayilov appeared to be lucid; he spoke clearly and demonstrated a sharp memory and a quick wit. We remain concerned with the terms of Ismayilov's institutionalization, and have referred Ismayilov to the DRL-funded American Bar Association Legal Advocacy Center. We are also troubled by the possibility that Nakhchivani authorities may be using mental institutions as a tool for punishing citizens who complain, and will investigate the matter. The Ambassador raised Ismayilov's case with a number of senior officials, including Presidential Chief of Staff Ramiz Mehdiyev, Nakhchivani President Vasif Talibov, and the BAKU 00001251 003 OF 003 Ministers of Internal Affairs and National Security, and we will continue to encourage GOAJ authorities to investigate this case and punish those responsible. DERSE