AZERBAIJANI MPS DEMAND TO INVESTIGATE IN ARMY

Trend News Agency
Oct 28 2008
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan, Baku, 28 October / Trend News, corr. I.Alizade /
Azerbaijani MPs demand to investigate the situation in army.

"The problems between soldiers and officers should be investigated
in army," MP Gular Ahmadova from the governing New Azerbaijan party
(NAP), said.

A video tape showing soldiers in the military unit being beaten was
posted on internet on 4October. The video was taped in the military
unit of the Interior Ministry located in Hajigabul city.

The press service of the Interior Forces confirmed that officers Vugar
Agayev and Eldaniz Rahimov have been arrested for beating soldiers.

A suit has been filed over the fact. The chief of the military unit
and deputy chief have been dismissed.

Later on 21 October, a video tape showing soldiers in the military
hospital being beaten by a "dembel" (a soldier who is going to complete
his military service) was posted on internet. It was videotaped in the
Alat military hospital of the Defense Ministry in February. Military
Prosecutor’s Office said a suit has been filed on the Article 332
(violating mutual relations between military servants and regulations).

Azerbaijani Ombudsman Elmira Suleymanova says public control is
needed to prevent torture and dedovshchina related cases in the
army. Public should exercise control over military units and jails,
Ombusdman Elmira Suleymanova said to TrendNews.

According to Ahmadova, the measures should be taken to improve the
psychological state in army.

"This issue must be considered. The format of investigation of the
situation must be defined. I believe that the Cabinet of Ministers
should make decision on the issue," Ahmadova said.

MP Aynur Jamalgizi said that the press service of the Defense Ministry
showed carelessness to related situation in army.

"Recently, the Azerbaijani soldier was captured by the Armenian Armed
Forces. The press service of the Defense Ministry said that it get
the information from press. The capture wrote a letter. Later it was
cleared that the soldier did not the alphabet at all and the letter
was written by a representative of the International Committee of
the Red Cross. This fact demonstrates the education rate of our
country. Parliament must voice its attitude to the related case,"
Jamalgizi said.