In April 1991 Soviet troops and Azerbaydzhani special police units began what was officially described as an operation to check compliance with passport regulations and confiscate illegally-held weapons in areas of the Republic of Azerbaydzhan which have been the scene of inter-ethnic violence. While Amnesty International recognizes that law enforcement officials in the area are charged with keeping order, this document details the organization’s concern at numerous reports that many of those detained during the operation were beaten and ill-treated.
