BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 21. The mother of
Azerbaijani citizen Yadulla Ramiz oglu Rufullayev, who was detained
by Russian law enforcement authorities, has said that her son was
unjustly detained and subjected to severe torture and psychological
pressure by Russian investigators.
Aliya Rufullayeva told Trend that her son had been working as a truck driver
to support his three children. She said Russian authorities had
brought what she described as fabricated charges against him under
Article 276.1 of the Russian Criminal Code (espionage), which she
said were not supported by any evidence.
“My son’s truck passed customs control without any problems and
was cleared to return to Azerbaijan. However, Russian law
enforcement authorities took advantage of the fact that he does not
speak Russian and forced him to sign false documents. He has been
unlawfully detained for one year and one month. During the
investigation, Russian investigators put a bag over his head, taped
his mouth shut and tortured him with electric shocks for hours. The
Russian side is forcing him to give statements slandering the
Azerbaijani state. My son has rejected these unlawful demands by
Russian authorities, saying: ‘I would rather spend 20 years in
prison than betray my state,’” she said.
The mother noted that Yadulla Rufullayev is the sole breadwinner
of the family and that the family is facing difficult social
conditions. She also claimed that the state-appointed lawyers
provided by the Russian side had acted in a biased and inactive
manner.
Another court hearing in the case is expected to take place on
August 31.
Official appeals regarding the matter have been submitted to
Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Embassy of Azerbaijan
in Russia, the Office of the Ombudsman and other relevant state
bodies.
Rufullayeva said her son had faced what she described as
arbitrary treatment and discrimination by Russia because he is an
Azerbaijani citizen, and appealed for state support to protect his
rights and secure his release.
