DUSHANBE, July 13, 2012, Asia-Plus – Tajik law enforcement authorities are taking measures to prevent the use of torture and other ill-treatment by security officials.

In a report released at a roundtable in Dushanbe, Interior Minister Ramazon Rahimov noted that on July 13 that a new position – an assistant to chief of police department for interaction with the public -- has been introduced in police stations in all cities and districts across the country.  “Any citizen may apply to them over police officers’ attitude and behavior,” the minister said.

According to him, introducing a separate article on torture is one of measures to prevent the use of torture and other illegal methods during the preliminary investigation.

Rahimov also noted that a hotline (221-02-02) had been introduced at the Ministry of Interior to get information about the use of illegal methods during inquests and investigations.

The roundtable that brought together senior representatives from the ministry of interior, president’s executive office as well as representatives from diplomatic missions and international organizations active in the country also considered issues related to the draft strategy of reforming Tajik militsiya (police) and interaction between civil society and police.