Azerbaijani ombudsman monitors detention of Russians arrested in major crime raids

On July 18, the Office of the Azerbaijani Ombudsman conducted a visit to assess the conditions of Russian citizens currently held in custody in Baku in connection with high-profile criminal cases involving drug trafficking and cybercrime.

The visit was part of Azerbaijan’s national preventive mechanism, aimed at monitoring detainee treatment and ensuring compliance with human rights standards, Caliber.Az reports.

During the visit, representatives of the National Preventive Group (NPG) held private meetings with each of the Russian detainees.

No complaints were reported regarding either the conditions of detention or the conduct of law enforcement personnel. The ombudsman’s office noted that all requests for medical assistance submitted by the detainees had been fulfilled. Additionally, at the request of family members, the office arranged visits between detainees and their relatives.

The Ombudsman’s Office emphasised that the detainees' cases remain under close scrutiny and that monitoring will continue.

Among those arrested are individuals suspected of membership in two criminal networks accused of smuggling drugs from Iran into Azerbaijan, engaging in online narcotics sales, and committing cybercrimes.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs also apprehended Igor Kartavykh, the director of Sputnik Azerbaijan, and the outlet’s employee Evgeny Belousov, in connection with the ongoing investigations.

By Tamilla Hasanova