Rights defenders treat choice of colony for Mekhman Guseinov as authorities’ revenge

Mekhman Guseinov, an Azerbaijani journalist and blogger, was transferred from SIZO (pre-trial prison) to colony – he was sent to the colony far from his home with the harshest custody conditions in Baku, rights defenders have stated, treating it as an execution for his journalistic activities.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that after his detention on January 9, Guseinov stated that he was tortured. In response, the head of the Nasimi District Police Department of Baku demanded to bring Guseinov to justice for slander. On March 3, the Surakhani District Court of Baku sentenced the blogger to two years in prison.

Today, in connection with the entry into force of the verdict, Guseinov was transferred from SIZO to Penitentiary Establishment No. 14, said his advocate Elchin Sadygov.

According to his story, on April 18, the blogger was transferred from an ordinary cell to a "transit cell" of Shuvalan SIZO-3 with nasty custody conditions, not compliant to the penitentiary norms of the Council of Europe.

Mr Sadygov has added that earlier this week Guseinov was examined by doctors of the Chief Medical Department of the Ministry of Justice, who confirmed his diagnosis of "vein varicose" and recommending a surgery.

Elshan Gasanov, the head of the Monitoring Centre for Political Prisoners, believes that sending Guseinov to Colony No. 14 is "a revenge on him for his blogger’s activities."

"Guseinov is a popular man; he criticizes high-ranking officials, who now ‘respond’ to him for criticism," said Gasanov.

Rasul Jafarov, the head of the Human Rights Club has confirmed that Colony No. 14 is notable for its poor custody conditions.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.