Activists demand to resume inquiry into death of blogger Mekhman Galandarov

The activists, who gathered to commemorate Mekhman Galandarov, have criticized the official version of his death at the SIZO (pre-trial prison). According to their version, the blogger was arrested for political reasons; and his death could have been violent.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Mekhman Galandarov, a blogger and a participant of oppositional actions, died at Baku SIZO-1 in April 2017.

The commemoration action on the second anniversary of his death was held on April 29, 2019, at Galandarov's grave in the Kyurdakhani cemetery in Baku.

Opening the ceremony, Ogtai Gyulyalyev, the coordinator of the Centre for the Protection of Political Prisoners, has recalled that Galandarov was arrested on February 7, 2017, on charges of illegal drug dealing.

"According to the official version, on April 28, 2017, he committed suicide in Baku SIZO-1. However, we doubt the reality of this version, since from the very beginning there was no transparent investigation," Mr Gyulyalyev has stated, pointing also to political motives for the arrest of Galandarov.

The absence of a transparent investigation and real punishment for the death of journalists creates new crimes against media professionals, Mekhman Guseinov, the chairman of the Institute for Reporters' Freedom and Safety (IRFS), is sure.

"We demand to resume inquiries into all journalists' deaths," Mr Guseinov has stated.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on April 29, 2019 at 09:56 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.