09:38, 5 September 2019

Relatives state life threat of hunger-striking Azerbaijani journalist

Ikram Ragimov, the journalist. Photo: screenshot of the video by meydan.tv

Ikram Ragimov, the Azerbaijani journalist, who is on his hunger strike at the SIZO (pre-trial prison) in protest against his arrest for extortion, has his kidneys failed, his cousin has stated.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on June 12, a court in Baku found Ikram Ragimov, the editor-in-chief of the "Realliq.info" website, guilty of extortion and sentenced him to 5.5 years in prison. On August 7, he went on a hunger strike; therefore, Ragimov doesn't eat for the 29th day already, while doctors treat hunger-striking for over 30 days as life-threatening.

The journalist asserts that special services are persecuting him after his publication with criticism of Ali Gasanov, an assistant to the Azerbaijani president. On December 6, 2018, the Union for the Freedom of Political Prisoners of Azerbaijan included Ragimov into the list of the country's political prisoners.

Ikram Ragimov has justified his protest action by the illegal, in his opinion, arrest, a customized sentence and a biased inquiry into his appeal complaint.

"Everyone should be concerned about the ongoing attacks on the freedom of speech in Azerbaijan, illegal bans and arrests of journalists. In the environment, where injustice reigns, laws fail to work, and it's difficult to fight for justice," Mr Ragimov said in his statement.

According to his version, "the pressure can be resisted only by the unity of free media professionals."

The journalist does not intend to stop his hunger strike, even if it results in his death.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on September 4, 2019 at 04:29 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

Author: Faik Medjid

Source: CK correspondent