Journalist Parviz Gashimli placed into dungeon in Azerbaijan, his advocate says

On June 23, Parviz Gashimli, a journalist and human rights activist, who is kept in SIZO-1 (pre-trial prison) in Baku was placed into dungeon for six days, said his advocate Bakhruz Bairamov.

"Today, I visited Parviz in SIZO-1 located in the village of Kyuradakhany. I still have no copy of the decision to place him into the dungeon in hand, but the administration officials told me openly that Parviz's punishment was caused by his interview to the website 'mediaforum.az', in which he unreasonably, as they said, criticized state authorities and insisted on political motives of his case, as well as by his insistent demands to provide him with additional meetings with relatives, beyond the regulations," said the lawyer.

Gashimli's advocates have not yet decided whether to appeal against the decision to place him into the dungeon.

"We may file a complaint, but I don't see much sense in it in terms of easing his life, since by then his punishment will be over. However, a complaint may be submitted in terms of a violation of Gashimli's right to the freedom of expression. In any case, we'll consult with Parviz and make a decision," said Bairamov.

In its turn, the PR division of the Azerbaijani Penitentiary Service has reported that "disciplinary measures were applied to the journalist."