Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BAKU596
2008-06-24 13:30:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Baku
Cable title:
UPDATE ON TWO HUMAN RIGHTS CASES: KHALIL AND
how-toVZCZCXYZ0001 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHKB #0596 1761330 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 241330Z JUN 08 FM AMEMBASSY BAKU TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5553 INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA PRIORITY 2866 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE PRIORITY 0987 RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
UNCLAS BAKU 000596
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
FOR EUR/CARC AND DRL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM AJ
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON TWO HUMAN RIGHTS CASES: KHALIL AND
HUSYENOV BEATINGS
REF: A. BAKU 00582
B. BAKU 00557
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED, NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION
UNCLAS BAKU 000596
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
FOR EUR/CARC AND DRL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM AJ
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON TWO HUMAN RIGHTS CASES: KHALIL AND
HUSYENOV BEATINGS
REF: A. BAKU 00582
B. BAKU 00557
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED, NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION
1. (SBU) The GOAJ continues to maintain that opposition
Azadliq newspaper reporter Agil Khalil was stabbed by Sergey
Strekhalin in a homosexual lovers, quarrel. Strekhalin, who
faces criminal assault and narcotics charges, was scheduled
to be tried June 24 in a Baku municipal court (Nasimi
district),but the presiding judge delayed the trial at the
request of the Prosecutor General's representative, who
argued that Khalil was a mandatory witness and was not
present. The presiding judge ruled that the trial would
resume on July 1, and that Khalil had to attend. The
Prosecutor General's office has publicly maintained that
Khalil is banned from leaving Azerbaijan because he is a
witness in the Strekhalin trial, a point that Presidential
Advisor Ali Hasanov also made to the Ambassador on June 19
(ref a). Previously, Khalil told us that he did not plan on
attending the trial, and that his lawyer had notified the
authorities about Khalil,s position. When asked, Khalil
said he did not think the Prosecutor General would force him
to attend the trial.
2. (SBU) Separately, GOAJ authorities prevented Khalil from
leaving the country on June 19. Khalil told the French
Charge that he was followed to the airport by four unmarked
vehicles. Upon arrival at the airport, he was approached by
a stranger who asked him to carry a package on the plane.
Khalil refused. When he arrived at passport control, there
was a 30-minute back-and-forth between the Border Guard
Officer and someone on the phone, with an apparent
disagreement over whether Khalil should be allowed to leave
the country. Khalil finally was informed that he was legally
unable to leave the country and was allowed to leave the
airport. Khalil said that, in the aftermath of this June 19
incident, he believes that he still is being followed. He is
still being accompanied by Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA)
bodyguards, which he said has made him feel safer.
3. (SBU) The Embassy spoke with Institute for Reporters'
Freedom and Safety (IRFS) chairman Emin Huseynov on June 23
to get an update on his medical condition. Per ref B,
Huseynov reportedly was beaten by an unidentified,
non-uniformed individual while in police detention on June
14. Huseynov told the Embassy that his health is improving,
but he still suffers from headaches, neck pain, vision
problems, and a persistent noise in his ears. Huseynov
remains hospitalized, and he is unsure when he will be
discharged. Huseynov also told us that the hospital staff is
treating him for a brain concussion, although the doctors
reportedly are afraid to admit officially Huseynov's symptoms.
4. (SBU) Huseynov highlighted that in the aftermath of his
reported June 14 beating, there has been an attempt to
publicly slander him and the IRFS. He noted a June 20
article in Ses newspaper, which is affiliated with the ruling
Yeni Azerbaijan Party, that claimed he had links with western
missionary groups and that he supports ties with the
terrorist PKK organization.
DERSE
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
FOR EUR/CARC AND DRL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM AJ
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON TWO HUMAN RIGHTS CASES: KHALIL AND
HUSYENOV BEATINGS
REF: A. BAKU 00582
B. BAKU 00557
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED, NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION
1. (SBU) The GOAJ continues to maintain that opposition
Azadliq newspaper reporter Agil Khalil was stabbed by Sergey
Strekhalin in a homosexual lovers, quarrel. Strekhalin, who
faces criminal assault and narcotics charges, was scheduled
to be tried June 24 in a Baku municipal court (Nasimi
district),but the presiding judge delayed the trial at the
request of the Prosecutor General's representative, who
argued that Khalil was a mandatory witness and was not
present. The presiding judge ruled that the trial would
resume on July 1, and that Khalil had to attend. The
Prosecutor General's office has publicly maintained that
Khalil is banned from leaving Azerbaijan because he is a
witness in the Strekhalin trial, a point that Presidential
Advisor Ali Hasanov also made to the Ambassador on June 19
(ref a). Previously, Khalil told us that he did not plan on
attending the trial, and that his lawyer had notified the
authorities about Khalil,s position. When asked, Khalil
said he did not think the Prosecutor General would force him
to attend the trial.
2. (SBU) Separately, GOAJ authorities prevented Khalil from
leaving the country on June 19. Khalil told the French
Charge that he was followed to the airport by four unmarked
vehicles. Upon arrival at the airport, he was approached by
a stranger who asked him to carry a package on the plane.
Khalil refused. When he arrived at passport control, there
was a 30-minute back-and-forth between the Border Guard
Officer and someone on the phone, with an apparent
disagreement over whether Khalil should be allowed to leave
the country. Khalil finally was informed that he was legally
unable to leave the country and was allowed to leave the
airport. Khalil said that, in the aftermath of this June 19
incident, he believes that he still is being followed. He is
still being accompanied by Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA)
bodyguards, which he said has made him feel safer.
3. (SBU) The Embassy spoke with Institute for Reporters'
Freedom and Safety (IRFS) chairman Emin Huseynov on June 23
to get an update on his medical condition. Per ref B,
Huseynov reportedly was beaten by an unidentified,
non-uniformed individual while in police detention on June
14. Huseynov told the Embassy that his health is improving,
but he still suffers from headaches, neck pain, vision
problems, and a persistent noise in his ears. Huseynov
remains hospitalized, and he is unsure when he will be
discharged. Huseynov also told us that the hospital staff is
treating him for a brain concussion, although the doctors
reportedly are afraid to admit officially Huseynov's symptoms.
4. (SBU) Huseynov highlighted that in the aftermath of his
reported June 14 beating, there has been an attempt to
publicly slander him and the IRFS. He noted a June 20
article in Ses newspaper, which is affiliated with the ruling
Yeni Azerbaijan Party, that claimed he had links with western
missionary groups and that he supports ties with the
terrorist PKK organization.
DERSE