Today we have learnt that the Investigation Committee has instigated criminal proceedings on the fact of battery of Mr. Emil Dadashov from Azerbaijan by officers from the Nizhegorodskiy district Directorate of the Interior, Nizhny Novgorod.

You may remember that Mr. Dadashov applied to the Committee against torture claiming that in April had been detained and battered by a police officer in the Nizhegorodskiy district Directorate of the Interior.

The police officer insulted Mr. Dadashov because of his nationality and religion and knocked his teeth out.

At first the Prosecutor’s office refused to start criminal proceedings on the allegations of police abuse, but when Russian and foreign media reported about the events,  and human rights defenders complained about unlawful actions of investigators, the Investigation Department of the Investigation Administration of the RF Investigation Committee for Nizhegorodskiy district started a case under cl.3 of art.286 (abuse of official powers with violent treatment).

On Monday Mr. Dadashov was interrogated as a victim by the investigator.

At present the Committee against Torture believes that today’s positive decision of the investigation authorities will ensure that the perpetrators are held liable for committing a crime based on racial hatred, Mr. Dadashov’s rights will be restored and the overall situation will prevent further xenophobia based crimes among Nizhny Novgorod policemen.