Health condition of "Voice of Talysh" editor imprisoned in Azerbaijan deteriorates

The health condition of Novruzali Mamedov, head of Talysh cultural center and chief editor of the newspaper "Tolyshi Sado" ("Voice of Talysh") in Azerbaijan, convicted for 10 years of imprisonment on the charge of treason, has sharply deteriorated.

"A month ago he needed three operations: removal of the cataract, operation on the thyroid gland and the prostate gland adenoma, as well as treatment of an acute hypertension. Today, the above diseases are complemented by disseminated osteochondrosis and right-hand neuritis of the radial nerve", runs the statement of the public committee for defending the rights of Novruzali Mamedov submitted to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

"As far back as one month ago they promised to place the patient to the medical department at the 15-th high-security colony under the penitentiary service of the Azeri Ministry of Justice", reports Ramiz Mamedov, lawyer of N. Mamedov.

According to him, Mariam Mamedova, the wife of the convict, and his son Emil Mamedov visited Novruzali Mamedov last week and they say that he is not able to move his right hand and his general state of health has sharply deteriorated.

The committee for defending the rights of Novruzali Mamedov "is deeply concerned about the situation and calls on all international and national public and political, human rights organizations and private persons to render moral support and assistance in releasing the illegally convicted 68-year-old scholar who is gravely ill".

At the penitentiary service public relations section, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent has been informed that they have no information about aggravated health of  Novruzali Mamedov.

In his turn, Elchin Bekhbudov, head of Committee against Torture, notes that Novruzali Mamedov's family members have addressed him. However, according to Bekhbudov, he has not managed to meet with Mamedov yet. According to Bekhbudov, the management of the penitentiary service limits his ability of prompt individual monitoring. According to Bekhbudov, he will now conduct monitoring "as member of the Public Committee on Monitoring under the Penitentiary Service".