During the establishment of a visiting group the composition of the group is formed considering number, profession, gender etc. The questionnaires for visit and interviews, templates for taking minutes of conversations with convicts, surveys etc. are prepared. Conduction of the visit encompasses a number of stages: First, preliminary talk is held with the administration of the establishment. During such a conversation the group members introduce themselves and provide information on the purpose of the visit, and later get general information about the establishment. After the preliminary talk with the administration, the buildings of the establishment are visited. During this the material condition of the establishment, including size, capacity and the condition of cells and rooms, actual placement, light, ventilation, furniture supply, personal hygiene and sanitary conditions, and food is assessed, along with an investigation of medical treatment etc. After that, the documents are reviewed and detainees are individually and confidentially interviewed. Such talks can be held in groups as well, it is decided by the NPG. Talks with the staff of the establishment are also one of the necessary issues of a visit. In order to assess the treatment of persons responsible for the detainees, the NPG members organize interviews with the personnel. In some cases special surveys are used for prison staff together with the mentioned talks. At the end of the visit there is held a final talk with the management of the establishment and information provided on the findings of the NPG. Simultaneously, it is informed that the administration of this facility will be notified regarding the findings. From the point of view of the Azerbaijani NPM, the post-visit activities stage is more important than the visit itself. As the objective of the NPM is not only conducting visits to places of deprivation of liberty, visits are a beginning of the process aimed at the improvement of the treatment of and conditions for the people deprived of their liberty. Thus a report on the findings of the visit is prepared after undertaking the visit and recommendations to ameliorate the treatment and conditions are prepared and submitted to the relevant ministries. Usually, when the NPG deems it necessary, soon after the visit in order to check if the provided recommendations are implemented, follow-up visit day is scheduled and undertaken. In 2015, the NPG conducted 329 visits, out of which 250 were scheduled and 79 were ad-hoc visits.14 Thus, accordingly, 173 visits were 14 See Annex 1 14