In Azerbaijan, Ilgar Mamedov stops hunger strike in dungeon

Ilgar Mamedov, the leader of the movement "Republican Alternative" ("ReAl") has stopped the hunger strike in the penalty chamber (dungeon), said his lawyer Khalid Bagirov. The information about Mamedov's hunger strike is not true, said Mekhman Sadygov, a representative of the Penitentiary Service.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on May 30, Ilgar Mamedov, who is kept in SIZO (pre-trial prison) No. 1, located in the suburb of Baku named Kurdakhany, was placed for six days into the dungeon, according to the defence, for not wanting to stay in the same cell with a new cellmate.

Mamedov has resumed eating, because his cellmates share food with him, Khalid Bagirov, who has visited his client today, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent. According to the lawyer, the defence of Mamedov is preparing an appeal against treating him at the SIZO.

Let us remind you that Ilgar Mamedov was arrested on February 4, 2013. He is accused of organizing mass riots in the Azerbaijani city of Ismailly on January 23-24, which escalated into clashes with the police.

On February 14, the European Union called to release Mamedov and the deputy head of the "Musavat" Party Tofiq Yagublu, detained on the same case. The AI's report issued on May 23 contains criticism of violations of democratic freedoms in Azerbaijan and states that the authorities pursue human rights defenders and journalists for their work. The Azerbaijani authorities treat the report of the Amnesty International on the situation in the country as biased.