Imprisoned Human Rights Defender Complains About Detention Conditions

Mammad Alpay, Chair of the Election Monitoring Alliance and a human rights defender recognized as a political prisoner, has issued a statement raising concerns about the conditions of his detention and restrictions on his rights.

According to Alpay, in-person visits with immediate family members have effectively been suspended for the past six months. During this period, only visits through a glass partition have been permitted. He says the detention facility's administration has repeatedly promised to restore face-to-face visits, but those promises have not been fulfilled. At the same time, even visits through a glass partition are reportedly not allowed for extended family members and friends.

Alpay also states that magazines, newspapers, and, in some cases, books sent to him by his relatives have not been delivered.

He further complains that prisoners are transported to court hearings in special prison vehicles under overcrowded conditions. According to him, the number of detainees placed in these vehicles exceeds their intended capacity, causing significant discomfort during transportation.

Another concern relates to the treatment of detainees after court hearings. Alpay says that, instead of being returned promptly to the detention facility, detainees are often forced to remain inside courthouse buildings for several hours and, in some cases, until the end of the day.

According to Alpay, these conditions have a negative impact on detainees' physical and psychological well-being, forcing them to remain in poorly ventilated environments for prolonged periods, with limited access to drinking water, food, and sanitary facilities.

He called on the relevant authorities to investigate these issues and take the necessary measures to ensure that the rights of detainees are respected.

Mammad Alpay was detained on March 14, 2025. The Binagadi District Court ordered his pretrial detention, which has since been extended twice.

He is charged under two separate criminal cases involving a total of eleven articles of the Criminal Code.

The charges stem from both the so-called "NGO case" and the criminal case against Anar Mammadli. They include money laundering, abuse of official authority, official forgery, illegal entrepreneurship, smuggling, tax evasion, forgery of official documents, and the use of forged documents.

Alpay rejects all charges against him, maintaining that his prosecution is retaliation for his human rights and election monitoring activities.

As of now, the Penitentiary Service and other relevant state authorities have not publicly responded to the allegations raised by Alpay.