CEDH · CASELAW;COMMUNICATEDCASES;ENG — 9 avril 2018

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border-right:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt } .s5AA5FD31 { border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-right:0.75pt solid #808080; border-left:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt } .s96C61078 { border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-left:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt } .s32563E28 { margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt }   Communicated on 9 April 2018   FIFTH SECTION Application no. 31793/10 Elchin HASANOV against Azerbaijan and 13 other applications (see list appended) STATEMENT OF FACTS The applicants are Azerbaijani nationals.   The facts of the cases, as submitted by the applicants, may be summarised as follows. Further details about the applicants and the facts of the cases are set out in the appendix. A.     Alleged ill-treatment of the applicants In applications nos. 46419/16, 25054/17, 27247/17, 29896/17, 43608/17, 64510/17, 69510/17, 70443/17, 70521/17, 70535/17 and 75035/17 the applicants were allegedly ill-treated and threatened by law-enforcement officers during arrest and (or) in police custody with a view of extracting confessions from them. The applicants sustained various bodily injuries. Once in police custody the applicants were denied access, inter alia, to lawyers of their own choice and were not able to inform their families about their arrest. The applicants made confession statements and later denied them, claiming that they had been extracted under duress. The applicant, a journalist, in application no. 31793/10 was allegedly beaten up by police officers when he was recording the events in the wake of the dispersal of a peaceful assembly. The applicant in application no. 64510/17 was shot during arrest and taken to hospital. He was shackled to bed for a period of forty-three days during his stay in hospital. After transfer from hospital to the Baku Pre-trial Detention Centre, the applicant was denied medical care. B.     The remedies used by the applicants The applicants lodged criminal complaints with the prosecuting authorities, requesting opening of a criminal case into their claims. The applicants underwent forensic medical examination. The injuries they sustained were confirmed by the relevant medical documents mentioned in the appendix, save in respect of the applicants in applications nos. 31793/10, 25054/17, 34133/17 and 43608/17. The applicants in applications nos. 25054/17 and 43608/17 complained to the domestic authorities, inter alia , of the failure of the forensic experts to document the signs of injuries sustained by them. The applicants in applications nos. 31793/10 and 34133/17 complained that the forensic medical examination was held belatedly. The applicants in applications nos. 46419/16, 25054/17, 27247/17, 29896/17, 43608/17, 69510/17, 70443/17, 70521/17, 70535/17 and 75035/17 also complained that they had been held in the temporary pre-trial detention facility of the Organised Crime Unit of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan (“the OCU”) for periods in excess of the statutory time-limit. The applicants in applications nos. 31793/10, 46419/16, 29896/17 and   34133/17 complained of a violation of their freedom of expression. In application no. 75035/17 the applicant has not received reply to his criminal complaint and lodged a complaint with the domestic courts. In all other cases the prosecuting authorities refused to open criminal cases into the applicants’ complaints. The prosecuting authorities rejected the applicants’ complaints of ill-treatment as unjustified. They also held in applications nos. 27247/17, 29896/17, 64510/17, 69510/17, 70443/17, 70521/17, 70535/17 and 75035/17 that the bodily injuries the applicants had sustained were caused during their arrest in response to their resistance to law-enforcement officers. In all cases the domestic courts dismissed the applicants’ complaints of the lack of an effective investigation into their complaints. C.     Conditions of transport Following their arrest outdoors the applicants in applications nos. 25054/17, 27247/17, 29896/17, 69510/17, 70443/17, 70521/17, 70535/17 and 75035/17 were transported to the pre-trial detention facility by the furniture-moving vans. D.     The right of individual application On 8 August 2014 the lawyer of the applicants in applications nos.   31793/10 and 15996/12, Mr I. Aliyev, was arrested on charges of tax evasion, illegal entrepreneurship and abuse of authority. During the search of his office, a number of documents were seized by the State authorities, including all the case files relating to applications before the Court that were in the possession of Mr I. Aliyev, as a representative. On 25 October 2014 some of the seized documents were returned to Javad Javadov, Mr.   I.   Aliyev’s counsel. By a fax dated 28 August 2014, Mr I. Aliyev informed the Court of the seizure of the case files claiming a breach of Article 34 of the Convention in respect of all the applications affected. In his letters sent to the Court in September 2014 Mr I. Aliyev reiterated the complaint concerning the seizure of the case files. COMPLAINTS 1.     The applicants complain under Article 3 of the Convention of being subjected to ill-treatment and absence of an effective investigation in this connection. 2.     The applicants in applications nos. 25054/17, 27247/17, 29896/17, 69510/17, 70443/17, 70521/17, 70535/17 and 75035/17 complain under Article 3 of the Convention of the conditions of their transport to the pre-trial detention facilities after their arrest. 3.     The applicant in application no. 64510/17 complains under Article 3 of the Convention of the lack of medical treatment at the pre-trial detention facility. 4.   The applicants in applications 31793/10, 29896/17, 34133/17 and 43608/17 complain under Article 10 of the Convention of a violation of their right to freedom of expression. 5.     The applicants in applications nos. 24247/17, 64510/17, 69510/17, 70443/17, 70521/17, 70535/17 and 75035/17 complain under Article 13 of the Convention that they did not have at their disposal effective domestic remedies for their complaints under Article 3 of the Convention. 6.     The applicants in applications nos. 31793/10 and 15996/12 complain under Article 34 of the Convention that by seizure of their case files from the office of their representative, Mr I. Aliyev, on 8 and 9 August 2014 the State hindered the effective exercise of their right of individual application. COMMON QUESTIONS 1.     Were the applicants subjected to torture, inhuman or degrading treatment in breach of Article 3 of the Convention? 2.     Did the authorities carry out an effective official investigation into the applicants’ allegations of ill-treatment, as required by Article 3 of the Convention (see Labita v.   Italy [GC ], no.   26772/95, §   131, ECHR   2000 ‑ IV)? The Government are requested to submit copies of all documents concerning the applicants’ cases. CASE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS 1.     Applications nos. 46419/16, 25054/17, 27247/17, 29896/17, 64510/17, 69510/17, 70443/17, 70521/17, 70535/17 and 75035/17 1.     Have the authorities discharged their burden of proof by providing a plausible or satisfactory and convincing explanation of how the applicants’ injuries were caused (see Selmouni, v. France [GC], no. 25803/94, § 87, ECHR 1999 ‑ V; Salman v. Turkey [GC], no.   21986/93, §   100, ECHR   2000 ‑ VII; and Bouyid v. Belgium [GC], no.   23380/09, §   83 and further, ECHR 2015)? In particular, -     did the State agents plan the arrest operations in advance? Did they have sufficient time to evaluate the possible risks and to take all necessary measures for carrying out the arrest? Was the recourse to physical force during the arrest made strictly necessary by the applicants’ own conduct (see Rizvanov v.   Azerbaijan , no. 31805/06, §   49, 17   April 2012)? -     did the police officers report to their supervisor about the use of physical force or/and special means during the arrest (see Shamardakov v. Russia , no. 13810/04, § 133, 30 April 2015)? Did the reports provide detailed explanation about the circumstances of the applicants’ arrest, including the use of force against them? -     Were the applicants given access to a doctor and, if so, when? In particular, were the applicants taken without delay before a medical professional, notably with a view to record the injuries sustained by them during the arrest ( Mammadov v. Azerbaijan , no. 34445/04, § 65, 11   January 2007) and to provide an appropriate medical care?   2.     The Government are requested to address, inter alia , the following points concerning the circumstances surrounding the applicants’ alleged ill ‑ treatment: -     Were they given the possibility of informing their families about their apprehension and, if so, when? -     Were they given access to a lawyer and, if so, when? Was a lawyer on duty invited by authorities or a lawyer of the applicants’ own choice? If given initially a State-appointed lawyer, when did the applicants receive access to a lawyer of their choice? -     How long were the applicants held at the temporary pre-trial detention facility of the OCU? On which legal grounds (the national legislation and (or) court orders) were the applicants held at the OCU? In this connection, what is the difference between the OCU’s temporary pre-trial detention facility and the Baku Pre-Trial Detention Facility in terms of the conditions of detention, in particular, the regime applicable to the detainees? 2.     Applications nos. 25054/17, 27247/17, 29896/17, 69510/17, 70443/17, 70521/17, 70535/17 and 75035/17 What were the conditions of transport of the applicants to the OCU after their apprehension by the authorities? 3.     Applications nos. 24247/17, 64510/17, 69510/17, 70443/17, 70521/17, 70535/17 and 75035/17 Did the applicants have at their disposal an effective domestic remedy for their complaints under Article 3 of the Convention, as required by Article   13 of the Convention? 4.     Application no. 64510/17 Was the applicant provided with adequate medical care in the pre-trial detention centre? 5.     Applications nos. 31793/10, 29896/17, 34133/17 and 43608/17 Has there been an interference with the applicants’ freedom of expression within the meaning of Article 10 § 1 of the Convention? If so, was that interference prescribed by law and necessary in terms of Article 10 § 2 of the Convention? 6.     Applications nos. 31793/10 and 15996/12 In view of the seizure of the applicants’ case files from Mr I. Aliyev’s office on 8 and 9 August 2014, has the State hindered the effective exercise of the applicants’ right of individual application under Article 34 of the Convention? APPENDIX No. Application no. Lodged on Applicant name, date of birth and place of residence Represented by Date of arrest,   location of the detention facility   Date(s) of medical examination   Applicants’ complaints about ill ‑ treatment to the domestic authorities (first complaint, latest refusal to open a criminal case, the latest domestic courts’ decision)   31793/10 09/06/2010 Elchin HASANOV Baku   Intigam ALIYEV N/a 17/07/2009     10/05/2009 First complaint to the prosecuting authority   17/07/2009 Refusal to open a criminal case   09/12/2009 Baku Court of Appeal     15996/12 11/02/2012 Bakhtiyar HAJIYEV 28/03/1982 Ganja   Intigam ALIYEV 04/03/11 Ganja city Nizami district police office 07/03/11   Unspecified First complaint to the prosecuting authority   17/03/2011 Refusal to open a criminal case   01/09/2011 Baku Court of Appeal     46419/16 03/08/2016 Vugar ABISHOV 10/08/1978 Sumgayit   Sirajaddin KARIMOV   23/10/15 The OCU; Baku Pre-trial Detention Centre     03/11/2015   23/11/15     26/10/2015 First complaint to the judge ordering his remand in custody   29/10/15 – 20/11/15 Complaint to the prosecuting authorities   05/12/2015 Refusal to open a criminal case   05/02/2016 Baku Court of Appeal   25054/17 07/03/2017 Zakir MUSTAFAYEV 12/01/1977 Baku   Yalchin IMANOV 25/12/2015 The OCU   27/05/2016   Unspecified First complaint to the prosecuting authority   27/05/2016 Refusal to open a criminal case   16/09/2016 Baku Court of Appeal   27247/17 29/03/2017 Abbas HUSEYNOV 03/03/1987 Baku   Fariz NAMAZLI 26/11/2015 The OCU; Baku Pre-trial detention centre 30/11/2015   Unspecified First complaint to the prosecuting authority   16/06/2016 Refusal to open a criminal case   20/09/16 Baku Court of Appeal   29896/17 13/04/2017 Taleh BAGIROV 23/06/1984 Baku   Elchin SADIQOV 26/11/2015 The OCU   14/12/2015     25/01/2010 First complaint to the judge (judicial supervision procedure)   25/01/2010 First complaint to the prosecuting authority   27/05/2016 Refusal to open a criminal case   13/10/2016 Baku Court of Appeal     34133/17 01/05/2017 Aslan ISMAYILOV 20/02/1958 Baku     N/a   12/06/2013   30/05/2013 First complaint to the prosecuting authority 28/06/2013 Refusal to open a criminal case 16/12/2009 Baku Court of Appeal   43608/17 06/06/2017 Fikrat IBISHBEYLI 17/09/1976 Baku   Elchin SADIQOV 30/06/16 The OCU; Baku Pre-trial Detention Centre       11/10/2016   20/09/2016 Criminal complaint to the prosecuting authority 17/10/2016 Refusal to open a criminal case 05/12/2016 Baku Court of Appeal     64510/17 21/08/2017 Shamil ABDULLAYEV 23/01/1985 Baku   Elchin SADIQOV 08/01/16 Baku Pre-trial Detention Centre 27/11/2015   14/11/2016   Unspecified First complaint to the prosecuting authority 31/10/2016 Refusal to open a criminal case 21/02/2017 Baku Court of Appeal     69510/17 08/09/2017 Alibala VALIYEV 27/05/1980 Baku   Nemat KARIMLI 26/11/15 The OCU; Baku Pre-trial Detention Centre       30/11/2015   20/10/2016-14/11/2016     Unspecified time First complaint to the court   02/12/2016 Refusal to open a criminal case   11/08/2017 Baku Court of Appeal   70443/17 11/09/2017 Abbas GULIYEV 27/03/1995 Baku   Nemat KARIMLI 26/11/15 The OCU; Baku Pre-trial Detention Centre       30/11/2015   20/10/2016 Unspecified time First complaint to the prosecutor office   02/12/2016 Refusal to open a criminal   10/08/2017 Baku Court of Appeal   70521/17 14/09/2017 Rasim JABRAYILOV 15/04/1982 Baku   Zibeyda SADIQOVA 26/11/15 The OCU; Baku Pre-trial Detention Centre     27/11/2015   03/10/2016     05/09/2016 First complaint to the prosecutor office   01/11/2016 Refusal to open a criminal case   14/03/2017 Baku Court of Appeal   70535/17 17/09/2017 Ramin YARIYEV 17/02/1998 Baku   Elchin SADIQOV 26/11/15 The OCU; Baku Pre-trial Detention Centre     08/12/15   20/10/2016 05/09/2016 First complaint to the prosecutor office   31/10/2016 Refusal to open a criminal case   09/03/2017 Baku Court of Appeal   75035/17 11/10/2017 Ali NURIYEV 13/09/1991 Baku   Nemat KARIMLI   30/11/2015   20/10/2016     Unspecified time First complaint to the prosecutor office   23/08/2017 Baku Court of Appeal