Finding Inmates In Azerbaijan Prisons: A Guide

Azerbaijan has a history of imprisoning political prisoners and dissidents, with reports of routine psychological and physical abuse in jails. The country's prison structure is divided into several categories: pretrial detention centres, prisons and penitentiary institutions, as well as temporary detention facilities inside most police stations.

If you are a British national and are arrested or detained in Azerbaijan, consular staff will do what they can to help you. However, they cannot interfere with the local justice system, get you out of jail, or pay for services such as a lawyer. If you are arrested or detained in Azerbaijan, the authorities should ask whether you want them to contact the British embassy in Baku. If they do not ask, you can make the request yourself. Friends or family can also contact the British embassy in Baku, or the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) in London.

If you are a foreign national from another country, you should contact your country's embassy in Azerbaijan for assistance.

Azerbaijan's prison structure: pretrial detention centres, prisons and penitentiary institutions, and temporary detention facilities inside most police stations

Azerbaijan's prison structure is divided into several categories: pretrial detention centres, prisons and penitentiary institutions, and temporary detention facilities inside most police stations.

Pretrial Detention Centres

Pretrial detention centres, also known as Temporary Detention Places, are under the authority of the police or another law enforcement organisation. Here, individuals are detained before the start of a criminal case against them, for example, if they were captured at the location of a crime immediately after it was committed. Detainees at these centres have flexible detention conditions and have the right to phone calls, visits, and to hire/meet a lawyer.

Prisons and Penitentiary Institutions

Prisons and penitentiary institutions are operated by the state or federal government and hold people for longer periods, such as many years. These facilities are fully funded through the state budget or other legal sources, although in reality, life in prison costs money. According to former prisoners, they need to spend between 100-150 manat (60-88 US dollars) per month in pretrial detention and around 50 manat (30 dollars) once in a penitentiary facility.

Temporary Detention Facilities

Temporary detention facilities are located inside most police stations. They are used to hold individuals for shorter periods, such as before they are transferred to a pretrial detention centre or prison.

How to find out if someone is a political prisoner: reference criteria set out by the Council of Europe and the Secretary General's independent experts

The Council of Europe and the Secretary General's independent experts set out criteria to identify political prisoners in the context of the accession of Armenia and Azerbaijan to the organisation. The criteria were approved by all stakeholders, including the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers and the Parliamentary Assembly.

The criteria are as follows:

A person deprived of their liberty is to be regarded as a 'political prisoner' if:

• The detention has been imposed in violation of fundamental guarantees set out in the European Convention on Human Rights and its Protocols (ECHR), including freedom of thought, conscience and religion, freedom of expression and information, freedom of assembly and association.
• The detention has been imposed for purely political reasons without connection to any offence.
• For political motives, the length of the detention or its conditions are clearly out of proportion to the offence the person has been found guilty of or is suspected of.
• For political motives, the person is detained in a discriminatory manner compared to others.
• The detention is the result of proceedings that were clearly unfair and appears to be connected to political motives of the authorities.

It is important to note that those deprived of liberty for terrorist crimes should not be considered political prisoners if they have been prosecuted and sentenced according to national legislation and the European Convention on Human Rights.

The competent authorities of all member states of the Council of Europe are invited to reassess the cases of any alleged political prisoners using these criteria and release or retry them as appropriate.

How to contact the Azerbaijani prison service: 114 Nizami Street, 370601 Baku, Republic of Azerbaijan

The address for the Azerbaijani Prison Service is: 114 Nizami Street, 370601 Baku, Republic of Azerbaijan.

Postal Address:

The postal address for the Azerbaijani Prison Service is: 114 Nizami Street, 370601 Baku, Republic of Azerbaijan.

Email Address:

The email address for the Azerbaijani Prison Service is: [email protected]

Telephone Number:

The telephone number for the Azerbaijani Prison Service is not publicly available. However, you can contact the British Embassy in Baku for assistance with prison-related matters. The telephone number for the British Embassy is: +994 (12) 4377878.

Visiting in Person:

If you wish to visit the Azerbaijani Prison Service in person, you can find them at 114 Nizami Street, Baku. Baku is the capital city of Azerbaijan and is located on the Caspian Sea.

Online:

You can also find information about the Azerbaijani Prison Service online. The website address is: http://www.penitensiar.justice.gov.az

Additional Information:

If you are a British national and need assistance with a prison-related matter in Azerbaijan, you can contact the British Embassy in Baku or the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) in London. The FCDO can be reached by telephone at: +44 (0)20 7008 5000.

The FCDO can provide assistance with a range of issues, including providing information about the local prison system, arranging visits, and facilitating communication with prisoners. It is important to note that the FCDO cannot interfere with the local justice system or get you out of jail.

How to contact the British Embassy in Baku: 45 Khagani Street AZ1010 Baku Azerbaijan

The British Embassy in Baku is located at 45 Khagani Street AZ1010 Baku Azerbaijan. Here is how you can get in touch:

• To contact the British Embassy in Baku in an emergency, you can call them on +994 (12) 4377878 (Option 1 for English, then Option 2 for Consular). This line is reachable 24/7.
• You can also send them an online enquiry using this contact form: https://www.contact.service.csd.fcdo.gov.uk/posts/azerbaijan/british-embassy-baku.
• To book an appointment, you can call or email the embassy on [email protected]
• The embassy's phone number is +994 (12) 4377878 and the fax number is +994 (12) 4977434.
• The email address is [email protected]
• The website is http://www.gov.uk/government/world/organisations/british-embassy-baku
• The head of the mission is Mrs Dr Carole Crofts, Ambassador.

How to contact the Azerbaijani government: The President's Office of the Azerbaijan Republic, 19 Istiglaliyyat Street, Baku

The President of the Republic of Azerbaijan is the head of state and the embodiment of executive power. The President's Office is located at 19 Istiglaliyyat Street, Baku, AZ1066, and can be contacted via the following methods:

• Postal address: The Presidential Palace, 19 Istiqlaliyyat Street, Republic of Azerbaijan, Baku, AZ1066
• Fax: (+994 12) 492 35 43 or 492 06 25
• Email: [email protected]
• Telephone: (+994 12) 535 36 55 or 535 36 57

The President's Office is the executive administration of the President, currently headed by Samir Nuriyev. It is responsible for fulfilling the President's constitutional responsibilities and consists of a group of secretaries and departmental ministers.

The President's Office should be contacted if you are a British national arrested or detained in Azerbaijan and require consular assistance. The British Embassy Baku can be reached at +994 (12) 4377878, and the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) in London at +44 (0)20 7008 5000.

If you are a British national arrested or detained in Azerbaijan, the authorities will notify the British Embassy even if you do not wish for anyone to know. However, it is essential that you request the Embassy be informed as soon as possible, as notification usually takes place several weeks after the arrest. Friends or family can also contact the British Embassy or the FCDO.

Frequently asked questions