The King of Torture: Inside Javid Gulaliyev's Rule

A troubling situation has emerged from the Baku Investigative Detention Center (BIDC). Javid Ramiz oglu Gulaliyev, a top deputy chief, has become known as a symbol of abuse. People held in the jail say he acts like he believes he is the state.

Gulaliyev's quick rise in the Penitentiary Service seems to be due to Azerbaijan's heavy use of nepotism. He is the nephew of Etibar Pirverdiyev, who has been in the Azerbaijani government for a long time. Gulaliyev grew up with wealth and influence. He was educated overseas and speaks many languages. He looks polished, but inmates say he is brutal.

People say he seems like a mix of a Counter-Strike character and a normal office worker. He is often seen in military clothes with neat hair. He reportedly acts like he is shooting a gun, which shows he doesn't care about the reality of the prison.

Inside the jail, Gulaliyev is called the King of Torture. He seems to accept this title. He has said he is up to his neck in blood. He wasn't talking about military duty, which he avoided like other rich kids. He meant the harm he causes to prisoners.

The abuse methods described are awful. Inmates say they are handcuffed to iron bars in hallways for hours or hit with rubber sticks. Gulaliyev's ego is said to be so sensitive that if a prisoner smokes near him or questions an order, his enforcers will become violent.

The most recent accounts come from female journalists Aytac Tapdig, Khayala Agayeva, and Aysel Umudova. They were arrested as part of the Meydan TV case. They talk about a plan of physical and mental harm to stop their reporting and courtroom protests.

The journalists said that during a recent surprise search led by Gulaliyev, male officers went into their cells while they were changing or using the bathroom. When the women protested these violations, they were treated badly. They said they were dragged from their cells with their arms twisted back. Gulaliyev shouted, I am the State Father, saying his power came from the highest levels.

The reports of verbal and sexual abuse were sickening. During these events, Gulaliyev used sexual words and made bad comments about his seed being all over the place. This seemed to be a way to insult and shame the women.

Gulaliyev claims to be a religious man who prays at the end of the day, but his actions suggest he thinks he is untouchable. He says he wants to shoot all journalists if he could. He sees them as enemies of the state he says he represents.

This lawless environment is not just about one man. It is about a system that praises this behavior. The abuse will continue if stars on a uniform are earned by hurting helpless people. The journalists have asked for a quick look into the CCTV footage watched by the jail's head, Elnur Ismayilov, and for the Ombudsman to step in. But in a system where the King of Torture feels safe because of his background, justice is not likely for those stuck in his jail.