E/CN.4/2000/9 page 17 truncheons near the "20 January" metro station. He was reportedly taken to the Yasamalsky district police station, where he lost consciousness, but was not provided with any medical treatment. He was held for 23 hours before being released. He was reportedly subsequently treated at the Nagiyev hospital for concussion and severe trauma as a result of the beatings. A request for the institution of criminal proceedings in connection with the alleged beatings has reportedly been submitted to the Baku City Procurator. 56. Rafig Amirov, who was on trial for the murder of Shafa Mibabaly, is reported to have renounced his confession, which he said was extracted under duress, at the Baku City Court on 18 August 1998. He reportedly told the court that he had signed the confession after three or four officers of police station No. 24 in the Nasiminsky district of Baku beat him for around 10 minutes with their truncheons. Signs of physical abuse were reportedly visible on his body, as seen on a video film taken after his interrogation. 57. Vahid Qurbanov, a member of the Azerbaijan Democratic Party, was reportedly detained near the "28 May" metro station on 12 September 1998, together with Party colleagues. He was allegedly severely beaten and struck on his head and legs by police officers and forced into a vehicle, after he verbally objected to police attempts to quash his right to peaceful assembly. He was reportedly taken to police station No. 22 of the Nasimi District Police Administration, and sentenced the next day to 10 days' administrative detention for offering resistance to a police officer and being under the influence of alcohol. He was reportedly taken back to police station No. 22, and then to Qarashahar on the evening of 20 September. On 22 September, he was reportedly transferred back to police station No. 22 and charged with resisting a police officer. He was reportedly eventually transferred to Investigation Isolation Prison No. 1 (Bailov prison). He reportedly remains in detention at this prison. 58. Vagif Guliyev, Chairman of the Fizuli Branch of the Popular Front of Azerbaijan (PFA), was allegedly beaten by around 10 police officers at the Department to Combat Organized Crime of the Ministry of Internal Affairs after being detained on 12 September 1998 following a political demonstration. It is also alleged that he was given electric shock treatment in an attempt to persuade him to join the Yeni Azerbaijan party. 59. Salman Yusifov, Chairman of the PFA Sumgayit Branch, was reportedly arrested on 15 September 1998. He was allegedly subjected to electric shock treatment and was reportedly later transferred to the Baku Main Police Administration. 60. Elchin Mammadov, a PFA member from Sumgayit, was reportedly detained on 15 September 1998 by plain-clothes police officers and taken to the Department to Combat Organized Crime of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. He was allegedly forced under physical duress to confess to receiving money by Salman Yusifov (see case above), attending a PFA meeting on 15 September and to carrying rocks in his pockets to the meeting. He was allegedly subjected to electric shock treatment to make him give evidence. Vagif Guliyev (see case above), Salman Yusifov and he were reportedly subsequently released, however, criminal cases against the three men for resisting the police and organizing a meeting which violated public order were reportedly continuing. 61. Ramal Gumbatov, the 14-year-old son of Alikram Gumbatov, a local militia leader and head of the Equality of Peoples Party in Lenkoram, reportedly had his