A/HRC/19/58 Azerbaijan Number of outstanding cases at the beginning of the period under review Cases transmitted to the Government during the period under review: 0 Cases clarified during the period under review: 0 Cases sent under the urgent action procedure Cases sent under the standard procedure Government 0 0 0 0 Number of cases on which the Government has replied Number of outstanding cases at the end of the Non-governmental sources year under review 0 0 Multiple replies on some cases Number of cases of possible clarification by Government (6-month rule) N/A N/A N/A Government response N/A N/A Urgent appeal General allegation Yes (2009) Government response Yes Prompt intervention letter N/A Government response N/A Working Group request for a visit N/A Invitation extended N/A Information from the Government 72. On 2 September 2011, the Government transmitted a communication dated 25 August 2009, which was not recorded in the 2009 annual report (A/HRC/13/31), replying to a general allegation transmitted on 15 May 2009, concerning the alleged involvement of the Government of Azerbaijan in a practice of renditions and secret detention (A/HRC/13/31, paragraphs 70 and 71). General allegations Reply from the Government 73. On 2 September 2011, the Working Group received a response from the Government to the general allegation stating that it was not involved in the practice of renditions and secret detention allegedly operated by the United States on its territory. The Government stated that the general allegation contained no proof of such cases and that should such cases be reported to it, it would investigate them. 74. The Government recalled that it is a democratic republic guided by international human rights law and that the individual right to freedom is enshrined in its Constitution. 75. The Government also indicated that the principle of the presumption of innocence, the guarantee to an effective judicial remedy and the right to a fair trial at all stages of the criminal proceedings were guaranteed by a series of legal provisions. 76. In addition, the Government reported that the inspection on the control over the execution of punishments was set up to ensure an independent investigation of appeals. The Government also reported that a Public Committee consisting of representatives of authoritative non-governmental human rights organisations was set up under the Ministry of Justice to monitor the situation of detainees. 22