Azerbaijani Ombudsman's office reports violations in migrant detention centers

The Azerbaijani Ombudsman's Office has uncovered violations in illegal migrant detention centers in Baku and temporary accommodation centers in Yevlakh.

These violations were identified following unannounced monitoring visits by the National Preventive Group (NPG), under the direction of Ombudsman Sabina Aliyeva. The NPG visited the Baku Immigration Detention Center and the Yevlakh District Temporary Accommodation Center, both managed by the State Migration Service, Caliber.Az reports citing the Ombudsman's Office.

"The purpose of the visits, organized in line with the OPCAT, as well as the Constitutional Law on Ombudsman of the Republic of Azerbaijan, was to examine the conditions created for and treatment of foreigners, and to investigate incoming applications, to check the processing of documentation, and also, to follow up on the situation of elimination of defects and shortages found in the institutions by the NPG," the Ombudsman's Office stated.

During the visit to the Baku Immigration Detention Center, Ombudsman representatives inspected the residential buildings, medical centers, canteen, and other facilities. Confidential meetings were held with a group of detained migrants, with some complaints regarding detention conditions and treatment being accepted for further investigation.

The Ombudsman's Office noted, "It was said that there are problems in accessibility to medical services and supplying of medicaments. During the visit, it was found that the related services were not rendered because there is no relevant psychologist staff unit."

In addition, the visit to the Yevlakh District Temporary Accommodation Center revealed improvements, as several deficiencies identified during previous visits had been addressed.

However, further violations were discovered. "It was also determined that there was a lack of a medical doctor in the facility in violation of the requirements of the Internal Disciplinary Rules, as well as there was a need in supply of visual-didactic materials of the psychologist cabinet to organize psychological services."

At the conclusion of the visits, legal-awareness talks were held with the management of both institutions, with recommendations made on how to improve treatment standards and detention conditions.

The Ombudsman's Office confirmed that the State Migration Service would be formally appealed regarding the findings.

By Vugar Khalilov