Report from the Press Service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs

16.10.2015

On October 16, Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan hold expanded Board meeting dedicated to the themes of “the issue related to the consideration and adoption of citizen appeals in the city and district police authorities” and “fighting against illicit trafficking narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors”.

Opening the Board meeting, the minister of internal affairs, Colonel General Ramil Usubov noted that the discussed issues cover important spheres of service activities, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mr. Ilham Aliyev focuses and controls reviewing the appeals of citizens. The minister also emphasized that according to the instructions of the Mr. President head of the central executive power bodies at cities and regions regularly receives citizens and personally listen to their problems.

Reminding the last discussion on these significant issues - priority in the activities of the internal affairs, was in 2013 the Minister noted that forthcoming tasks were determined, and significant progress gained in this sphere during two years since the last Board meeting, important events were realized, as well as increased control and insistence over objective and timely investigation of complaints, responses given by advocates, elimination of the causes of complaints, legal, fair decisions and systematic reception of people.

Moreover, it was noted that the factors affecting the criminogenic situation in the field of drug trafficking organization with special attention to the situation and requires constantly control over situation, and define adequate measures and direction for execution.

The minister noted that although effective implementation of works in both directions, there are some shortcomings in the activity of the police who work in separate areas.

Head of MIA Secretariat Police Major General Nusrat Shirinov delivered a report on the first item on the agenda. He noted that in accordance with state policy pursued by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev the work on reception of citizens was taken under the control as a key means of human rights protection and has always been implemented special sensitivity. In the relevant field increased attention to improving the mechanism of control over the management and executive discipline, the application of modern information and communication technologies.

The coverage area of "Electronic document management" system, as well as software expanded, receiving complaints via e-mail, conducting registration in electronic form improved in the apparatus and structural bodies of the Ministry.

Integration of the appeals to the electronic Document Management system was ensured, which addressed to the official web-site. As a result, the citizens of the country was provided with opportunity to address their applications in electronic form from anywhere where they are in, online fill the reception form and get operative respond. Also, prevented additional documentation, time wasting, repeated appeals for reception and was organized systematic search of citizen. Creation of the automated registration database of applications and complaints in the city and district police authorities and integration of them to the "Electronic Document Management" system was completed.

It was noted that 6412 citizens received by the Ministry in the last 1,9 year, as well as 4223 citizens was received in the regions of country due to premilary media informing .

Necessary measures have been taken related to the each appeal, most of them have been resolved immediately, and have been showed legal assistance on the issues of compensation of damage.

At the same time, effective measures have been taken for elimination of the reasons and conditions causing complaints in the framework of Board decision of Ministry and instruction. In this regard, last year 456 citizens, first 9 month of this year 295 citizen have sent a gratitude letter to the Ministry.

Increasing attention to the quality of investigating the complaints, effective measures in accordance with the requirements of relevant laws, decrees and orders played a significant role in the activities against violations of the law. Due to the these and other organizational activities, in 2014 the number of appeals addressed to the Ministry decreased by 4,3 percent, complaints decreased by 6,9 percent, appeals addressed to the Administration of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan decreased by 21 percent. It should be noted that entrusting the district police chiefs with the investigating complaints and requirement to report the results positively impacted on the dynamics of overall applications. During  the first 9 months of this year the number of appeals addressed to the Ministry decreased by 9 percent, as well as repeated complaints decreased by 3 percent, appeals addressed to the Administration of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan decreased by 2,8 percent.

The Chief of Main Drug Enforcement Department of the Ministry Internal Affairs of Azerbaijan, Hazi Aslanov reported on the second issue of the agenda. He said that the Ministry attaches great importance to the purposeful organization of fight against illicit trafficking narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, their precursors, and expansion of international cooperation in this area and takes sustainable measures.
As in previous years, identifying and bringing to justice the persons who commit and prepare drug-related crimes in the country was one of the main duties during the reporting period and due to the appropriate measures the criminogenic situation in the country kept under control and spreading drugs in the country was prevented. During 9 months of 2015, 2497drug-related crimes was revealed, including 659 cases related to the sale, 43 criminal groups consisting of 115 people was rendered harmless by the internal affairs authorities.

200 kilograms of drugs or 37.5 percent more than compared with the same period last year, including 116.7 kilograms of opium, 34.3 kg of heroin, 15 kg of hashish, 547.2 kg marijuana, 18.4 kg of other drugs were removed illegal circulation. At the same time, the importation of 59.4 kg of drugs was prevented.

As a result of special operational plan for the prevention of the illegal cultivation and wild spread of plants containing narcotic substances, 169 tons of cannabis and poppy bushes revealed and destroyed.  In accordance with the decision of the Board of the ministry, at the average, secondary and higher education institutions among juniors and youth organized 576 meetings on strengthening anti-drug propaganda by the 75 city and district police authorities during the last one year.

Speakers spoke about the performed works, missed shortcomings and highlighted that effectual measures will be implemented to remove them by the end of the year.

Summing up the meeting, Interior Minister, Colonel-General Ramil Usubov expressed satisfaction with the overall activity related to the both discussed issues, at the same time demanded the removal of faults and shortcomings, and gave concrete instructions and recommendations.

He emphasized that reception of citizens and reviewing their appeals decisively impact on the public image and reputation of the police and heads, deputy heads of police authorities should keep it on attention, performed works have to be studied, have to identify causes of repeated complaints, in order to prevent such circumstances this kind of appeals have to be periodically monitored, advocates in all cases have to be provided with an official response on the results of the investigations on the complaints of citizens.

The Minister stressed the importance of prevention bringing drugs to Azerbaijan through illegal way, detection drugs having a strong impact before entering into turnover in the country and strengthening the search operations aimed to detect the persons who brings the drugs to the country, as well as, organizing educational activities at colleges and universities, on the purpose of strengthening anti-drug campaign among adolescents and young people.

The Interior Minister Ramil Usubov said it’s proud that the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev emphasized that there is stability and tranquility in the country in his speech at the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers dedicated to the results of socioeconomic development in nine months of 2015 and objectives for the future chaired by the head if state, and under the leadership of President, law enforcement agencies and the Interior Ministry said have indisputable services.

The Minister Mr. R. Usubov reminding the principal position of the head of state, once again stressed that interfering with entrepreneurial activities, rude behaving towards citizens, red tape and corruption is unacceptable, and serious disciplinary measures will be taken to the employees and their leadership who commit such negative actions.

Reminding the upcoming important even - the next parliamentary elections, the Interior Minister Ramil Usubov noted  the bodies of internal affairs responsible for policing and security issues arising from legislation, and they have great experience in this field, and he expressed his confidence that each employee will do their best as in previous years, in similar events. He once again stressed that the main task of the internal affairs bodies is protection and strengthening of social and political stability, which is the basis of the successfully state policy pursued by the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev in the field of strengthening of social welfare of Azerbaijani people. The forces who want to destabilize, to break the peace, create confusion, chaos and anarchy in the country, will be seriously prevented within the framework of the laws.

Minister of the Interior Affairs Ramil Usubov assured Azerbaijani President Mr. Ilham Aliyev that the personnel will properly fulfill requirements arising from the law of the state, decrees and orders of the head of state, will faithfully serve the people and the state, will do their best to protect stability and peace, as well as the legitimate interests of the state and citizens from illegal actions, as always, will complete the current year with high rates.