11:35, 11 August 2019

Azerbaijani journalist goes on hunger strike in SIZO

Ikram Ragimov has announced a hunger strike, demanding an objective consideration of his complaint in court. Despite the deteriorating state of health, he was placed into the dungeon (punishment cell), his relatives have informed.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Ikram Ragimov, the editor-in-chief of the website "Realliq.info", was under arrest since October 27, 2018. On June 12, 2019, a court in Baku found him guilty of extortion and sentenced to 5.5 years in prison.

The case against Ragimov was opened on citizens' complaints, the Azerbaijani State Security Service (SSS) asserts. He was accused of extortion by blackmail. Ragimov himself has stated that special services began spying on him after the publication of his letter criticizing Ali Gasanov, the president's assistant for socio-political issues. On December 6, 2018, the Union for the Freedom of Political Prisoners of Azerbaijan put Ragimov on the list of political prisoners.

After the court session on August 7, at which the defence's motion to re-interrogate the witnesses was rejected, the journalist went on a hunger strike.

"Ikram was indignant at the court's refusal to re-interrogate witnesses and victims. At the trial run by the first-instance court they testified in his favour, but the protocols of the session were falsified," a Ragimov's relative has stated.

According to the "Turan" News Agency, Ragimov's health condition has worsened due to the hunger strike.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on August 10, 2019 at 03:34 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

Author: Faik Medjid

Source: CK correspondent