CCPR/C/122/D/2252/2013
7.10 The Committee notes the author’s allegations that the presumption of innocence was
not respected regarding Ms. Muradova and her co-defendants, because she and several of
her colleagues were pronounced as traitors who should be condemned by then-President
Niyazov only a day after her arrest. In this respect, the Committee recalls its
jurisprudence,24 as also reflected in its general comment No. 32, according to which the
presumption of innocence, which is fundamental to the protection of human rights, imposes
on the prosecution the burden of proving the charge, guarantees that no guilt can be
presumed until the charge has been proved beyond reasonable doubt, ensures that the
accused has the benefit of doubt and requires that persons accused of a criminal act must be
treated in accordance with this principle.25 The Committee notes the author’s claims that the
whole trial lasted only two hours, and that Ms. Muradova was not able to present her case.
On the basis of the information before it and in the absence of any other pertinent
information or argumentation from the State party, the Committee considers that the facts
as presented demonstrate that the right of Ms. Muradova to be presumed innocent, as
guaranteed under article 14 (2) of the Covenant, has been violated.
7.11 The Committee notes the author’s allegations regarding the violations of Ms.
Muradova’s right to a fair trial under article 14 (5). In this regard, the Committee also notes
that the State party has not refuted these claims. The author alleges that Ms. Muradova’s
trial lasted less than two hours, that, in the beginning, the lawyer was not granted access to
his client and that the lawyer, and family members, never received the written judgment of
the court, which made further appeals all but impossible. The Committee recalls its
consistent jurisprudence and the provisions of its general comment No. 32 that the right to
have one’s conviction reviewed can only be exercised effectively if the convicted person is
entitled to have access to a duly reasoned, written judgment of the trial court, and, at least
in the court of first appeal where domestic law provides for several instances of appeal,26
also to other documents, such as trial transcripts, necessary to enjoy the effective exercise
of the right to appeal.27 The Committee notes that Ms. Muradova — or her family members
after her death — never received a copy of the written judgment of the court. In the absence
of any information from the State party in that regard, the Committee considers that due
weight must be given to the author’s allegations. Accordingly, it concludes that the absence
of any practical possibility for Ms. Muradova or her counsel to file an appeal in the
circumstances described discloses a violation of article 14 (5) of the Covenant.
7.12 Having thus come to a conclusion regarding a violation of Ms. Muradova’s rights
under article 14 (1) and (2), the Committee decides not to examine the claims regarding Ms.
Muradova’s rights under article 14 (3) (b) and (d) separately.
8.
The Committee, acting under article 5 (4) of the Optional Protocol, is of the view
that the facts before it disclose a violation by the State party of articles 6 (1) and 7, read
alone and in conjunction with articles 2 (3); 9 (1) and (3); 14 (1), (2) and (5); and 19, with
regard to Ms. Muradova. The Committee further concluded that the State party violated the
author’s rights under article 7, read separately and in conjunction with article 2 (3), of the
Covenant.
9.
In accordance with article 2 (3) (a) of the Covenant, the State party is under an
obligation to provide individuals whose Covenant rights have been violated with an
effective remedy in the form of full reparation. Accordingly, the State party is obligated to,
inter alia, take appropriate steps to: (a) conduct a thorough, prompt and impartial
investigation into Ms. Muradova’s arbitrary arrest and detention, torture and death in
custody, including, if necessary, by creating an independent commission of inquiry; (b)
provide full redress to the author and other family members of Ms. Muradova, including
adequate compensation and other measures of satisfaction, including rehabilitation for the
name of Ms. Muradova, for the violations of her rights; and (c) provide all information
regarding the investigation, including the findings of the autopsy, if one was conducted, and
24
25
26
27
10
See, for example, Gridin v. Russian Federation (CCPR/C/69/D/770/1997), para. 8.3; and Mwamba v.
Zambia (CCPR/C/98/D/1520/2006), para. 6.5.
See general comment No. 32, para. 30.
See Van Hulst v. Netherlands (CCPR/C/82/D/903/1999), para. 6.4; Bailey v. Jamaica
(CCPR/C/66/D/709/1996), para. 7.2; and Morrison v. Jamaica (CCPR/C/64/D/663/1995), para. 8.5.
See Lumley v. Jamaica (CCPR/C/65/D/662/1995), para. 7.5.