A/HRC/19/61/Add.4 Mr. Erkin Musaev. In its reply, the Government provided information regarding medical treatment given to Mr. Musaev and denied that he was subjected to torture or ill-treatment. However, the Government's reply did not address reports that Mr. Musaev was placed in solitary confinement in an isolation cell where he was allegedly beaten, nor did it mention any measures undertaken in observance of Opinion No. 14/2008 of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. The Special Rapporteur notes that the practice of solitary confinement can amount to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or torture, due to the punitive nature of solitary confinement and the pain and suffering it may inflict on the accused. The Special Rapporteur draws the Government's attention to article 7 of the Basic Principles for the Treatment of Prisoners, which provides that “efforts addressed to the abolition of solitary confinement as a punishment, or to the restriction of its use, should be undertaken and encouraged.” (Adopted by the General Assembly by Resolution 45/111 of 14 December 1990.) In the absence of contrary evidence, the Special Rapporteur determines that Mr. Musaev's rights under the UN Convention against Torture have been violated, and calls on the Government of Uzbekistan to undertake a prompt, independent and effective investigation of these facts, leading to prosecution and punishment of the responsible parties, and to provide redress to the victim. (d) JAL 30/08/2011 Case No. UZB 2/2011 State reply: 15/11/2011 Alleged torture and death in custody. 178. The Special Rapporteur thanks the Government of Uzbekistan for its response to the communication dated 30 August 2011. The communication raised serious concerns about the allegation of torture and the subsequent death in custody of Mr. Artikov Abdumannon. Regrettably, the Government‟s response failed to substantively address these allegations and also neglected to indicate whether an investigation has been conducted in Mr. Abdumannon‟s case. The Special Rapporteur determines that Mr. Abdumannon‟s rights as protected by the UN Convention against Torture have been violated, and calls on the Government to investigate, prosecute and punish those responsible, and to provide redress to the victim‟s family members. The Special Rapporteur also encourages the Government to continue its engagement with the Mandate. Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) (a) JUA 11/07/2011 Case No. VEN 2/2011 State reply: None to date Presunta existencia de una campaña de descalificación contra varios defensores y organizaciones. 179. El Relator Especial lamenta que, hasta la fecha, el Gobierno de Venezuela no haya respondido a esta comunicación de fecha 11 de julio de 201, que se refería a los presuntos actos de hostigamiento contra individuos y organizaciones trabajando en la defensa de los derechos humanos, actos que según se alega incluyeron amenazas de malos tratos en violación de la prohibición de la tortura y de los tratos o penas crueles, inchumanos o degradantes. El Relator Especial desea hacer referencia al Gobierno de Venezuela al párrafo 7(b) de la Resolución 16/23 del Consejo de Derechos Humanos. En el contexto del deber del Gobierno de ofrecer protección a las presuntas víctimas en este caso, el Relator Especial quisiera llamar la atención del Gobierno al párrafo 3(b) de los Principios relativos a la investigación y documentación eficaces de la tortura y otros tratos o penas crueles, inhumanos o degradantes. Ante la ausencia de evidencia en contrario, el Relator Especial sostiene que los derechos de las presuntas víctimas, consagrados en la Convención contra la Tortura, estén en peligro de ser vulnerados. El Relator Especial exhorta al Gobierno de Venezuela a disponer la investigación de los hechos de este caso y a tomar medidas para garantizar la integridad física y psicológica de las presuntas víctimas. El Relator Especial reitera su solicitud al Gobierno que proporcione información detallada acerca de cualquier investigación que se haya llevado a cabo en relación con este caso, así como las medidas de 77